
initK 


wit) 


KW4 






; ilTilii) 


IfOl 




imiiMWM 




. .nt.-tni.iHM* imir.-n,,. 


« .j »>■„•. . 

•rlnWmr! 


w»it it 




























' 













GAELIC FOLK 
TALES 


ADAPTED FROM THE THREE SAGA CYCLES OF 
GAELIC MYTHOLOGY, AND DESIGNED 
AS SUPPLEMENTARY SCHOOL 
READING 


REVISED EDITION 
With Foot Notes 


MARY GRANT O’SHERIDAN 


CHICAGO, U.S.A. 

THE HENNEBERRY COMPANY 
1910 


•I 

.0 zz 
G 


COPYRIGHT 1909 

BY 

MARY GRANT O’SHERIDAN 


©CLA252S94 


THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED 
TO THE MEMORY OF MY 
PATERNAL GRANDFATHER 


"John Raymond O' Sheridan 


whose beautiful Gaelic hand- 
writing inspired me even 
when a little child with a 
longing and love for the liter- 
ature of my Gaelic ancestors. 

MARY GRANT O’SHERIDAN 











































































































. 


























Foreword 


This little book is but a glimpse of a fairy structure 
whose beauty has no peer, and whose antiquity antedates 
all others of its kind, except the Hellenic. I have chosen 
it out of that which Julius Pokarney calls “a fresh foun- 
tain of lore and legend, almost inexhaustible, belonging 
to the Gaels, to the Irish Gaels.” To Mr. Michael O’Gal- 
lagher and Mr. David Ryan Twomey of the Gaelic Soci- 
ety of Chicago, I am indebted for kindest assistance in 
writing the notes. My book is but a wee “chraoibhin,” 
yet I hope to see the time of its blossom and fruitage. 
How can I better express myself than in the beautiful 
lines of Ethna Carbery: 

“O little green bud, break and blow into flower, 

Break and blow through the welcome of sunshine and shower; 
’Twas a long night and dreary you hid there forlorn, 

But now the cold hills wear the radiance of morn! 

O wind-drifted branch, lift your head to the sun, 

For the sap of new life in your veins hath begun!” 

— Mary Grant O’Sheridan. 


Chraoibhin [Cree veen] : A branch. 
































t 









INDEX. 


The Quest of the Eric Fine 7 

The Fate of the Children of Lir 60 

The Ard Righ of Eire 83 

'Deirdre, or the Fate of the Sons of Usnach. . .118 

^Oisin's Tale of Tir-na-n-og 154 

v The Pursuit of the Gilla Dacker 174 

The Fairy Palace of the Quicken Trees 21 1 





















. 



































HISTORICAL SKETCH OF STORIES 
CONTAINED IN THIS BOOK 

By 

MICHAEL O’GALLAGHER, 

Member of the Gaelic Society of Chicago. 


The Quest of the Eric Fine, The Children of Lir and 
Deirdre, under the names of The Fate of the Children of 
Tuireann, The Fate of the Children of Lir and The Fate of the 
Sons of Usnach have been famous from the earliest time of 
which any written record remains, as the “Three Sorrows of 
Story-telling.” 

The exact period when these stories were first put into writ- 
ing is not easy to determine. Douglas Hyde, speaking of 
these and other early tales, says: “There is not a trace of their 
authorship remaining, if authorship be the right word for what 
I suspect to be the gradual growth of race, tribal and family 
history and of Celtic mythology told and retold and polished up 
and added to; some of them, especially such as are the descend- 
ants of a pagan mythology, must have been handed down for 
perhaps countless generations; others recounted historical, tribal 
or family transactions magnified during the course of time, 
others again of more recent date, are perhaps fairly accurate 
accounts of actual events, but all prior to the year 650.” Until 
the time when they were written down stories were transmitted 
from generation to generation orally. It was the business of 
the bards or Ollamhs (Olafs) of Ireland to learn and recite 
its poems and sagas. The course of study for a Gaelic Ollamh 
of Eire was twelve years. In this time he was compelled to 
learn 350 romances and these he was supposed to be able to 
“synchronize and harmonize,” else says the Book of Leinster, 
“he is no poet.” Vallencey tells us that an Ollamh had a dis- 
tinctive dress of five colors and wore a white mantle and a 
blue cap ornamented with a gold crescent. Eugene O’Curry, 
one of the greatest Irish scholars of the last century, states in 
his magnificent work: “Manuscript Materials of Irish History,” 
that the “Three Sorrows of Story-telling” were committed to 
writing before the year 1000 A. D. Very few manuscripts of 
an earlier date now remain. This is not to .be wondered at 


when it is remembered that during the Danish invasions, lasting 
from the end of the eighth until the early part of the eleventh 
century, the monasteries, schools and libraries were the chief 
points of attack and all manuscripts — there were no printed 
books at this time — were again and again destroyed. 

Later, under English rule, the possession of an Irish manu- 
script by an Irishman was conclusive proof of treason and re- 
bellion. The “dangerous” books were hidden, buried in holes in 
the earth; built into crevices in walls, even cast into the lakes 
and rivers. So it comes to pass that but comparatively few of the 
great mass of manuscripts known to have existed in ancient 
times have come down to our day; and the story of the re- 
covery and preservation of those that remain would be found 
almost as interesting as any of the stories they themselves pre- 
serve. 

The Ard Righ of Eire: The story is found in Leabhar na 
h-Uidhre, under the name “Togbhail Bruighne Da Derga,” the 
taking or conquest of the palace of Da Derga. Leabhar na 
h-Uidhre means the “Book of the Dun Cow.” It is so called 
because the original book was written on vellum made from 
the hide of a celebrated cow of a dun color, which belonged to 
Saint Kiaran, of Clonmacnoise. The original book is lost. The 
volume now in existence is said to be a transcript of the 
original and was made in Clonmacnoise in the early part of 
the twelfth century. The story itself is considered to have a 
substantial basis of history; the principal incidents, the attack 
on and the destruction of the palace and the death of the king, 
Conaire, are regarded as real happenings. Exact fac-simile 
copies of Leabhar na h-Uidhre, the Book of Leinster, the Book 
of Ballymote and other famous Irish records may be seen in 
the Art Room of the Chicago Public Library. 

The other three stories, Oisin in Tir-na-n-Og, The Pursuit 
of the Gilla Dacker and The Fairy Palace of the Quicken 
Trees were great favorites among storytellers, but are not 
found in any ancient manuscripts. The oldest forms in which 
they are found appear to have been written about the thirteenth 
or fourteenth century. 

Leabhar na h-Uidhre [Lyow’-ar na heer'-ya] 

Togbhail Bruighne Da Derga LThog'-awl Breena Dhaw Dyar'-ga] 


The Quest of the Eric Fine 


CHAPTER I. 



IDDEN away in the hills of the beautiful 
island of Eire, there dwell to-day a 
fairy people called the Sidhe. In 
olden times, before the enchantment 
fell upon them, these people were 
large of stature and comely of fea- 
ture; skilled in the arts of war and peace; lovers 
of beauty, of freedom and of song. 

The name by which they were called was 
Tuatha De Danann. They came with their king, 
Nuada, to Eire and fought the Firbolgs, the peo- 
ple who at that time inhabited the island, and 
being victorious they took possession. But in 
their last great encounter, the battle of Magh 
Tuireadh, a Firbolg warrior cut off the hand of 
Nuada the De Danann king. 

The loss of his kingship went with that of his 
hand; for no one with a personal blemish could 


Eric : restitution. Eire [Ar'-ya] : Name of Ireland in the Gaelic lang- 
uage. Sidhe [She]: Fairies. Tuatha De Danann [Thoo' aha Da 
Dan ' ann] : The tribes of the God Danu ; the gods of the pagan Irish. 
Nuada [Noo' ah]. Firbolgs [Feer' bolgs], Magh Tuireadh [Maw 
Tu' rah] : Battle fought, according to the annals of the Four Masters, 
between the Tuatha De Danann and the Fomorians in the year of the 
world 3330 on a field in the County Sligo. 

7 


8 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


be a sovereign of the Tuatha De Danann. The 
people chose in his stead Breas, whose mother 
was a De Danann and whose father was Balor, 
king of the Lochlanns, called by the Tuatha De 
Danann “Fomorians” or sea robbers. 

Now the Fomorians had a foothold in Eire, and 
had for a long time exacted tribute from the peo- 
ple and otherwise oppressed and harassed them. 
Breas, on becoming king, proved a true Fomorian 
outdoing all others in unjust and niggardly deeds ; 
until so great was the burden imposed upon the 
people by him that, after a year of secret meet- 
ings and discussions on the part of eminent De 
Dananns, he was deposed. Then Nuada, for 
whom a silver hand had been made, was again 
given the kingship. And thenceforth he was 
known as Nuada of the Silver Hand. 

At this, time each year in the island of Eire, 
the De Dananns were compelled to pay taxes to 
the Fomorians. There were taxes on kneading 
troughs, querns, and baking flags; and also an 
ounce of gold for each one of their number. If 
any one neglected or refused to pay, his nose was 
cut off by the Fomorian tyrants. 

When Nuada had again become ruler of Eire, 
and the time of tax paying drew near, he called 

Breas [Brass]. Balor [Bah 'lor]. Loch'lanns: Scandinavians. 

Querns [kwams] : stone hand mills for grinding com. The pictures 
in Century Dictionary are taken from querns in the Dublin Museum. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


9 


a great fair-meeting on the hill of Usna, the place 
where the people came to pay. Also, Nuada sent 
for his friend and councillor, Lugha the Ildana, to 
attend the fair-meeting. 

And after a great multitude of people had as- 
sembled from near and far, they saw a band of 
warriors mounted on white steeds coming toward 
them from the east. At their head rode a young 
champion, tall and comely, with a countenance 
bright and glorious as the setting sun. This was 
the king’s friend, the Ildana; and the troop 
he led was the Fairy Host from the Land of 
Promise. 

He rode the steed of Manannan Mac Lir, 
Enbar of the flowing mane. No warrior was 
ever killed on the back of this steed, for she was 
as swift as the clear, cold wind of spring; and, 
she traveled with equal ease on land or sea. 
-Lugha wore Manannan’s coat of mail; no one 
could be wounded through it, or above it, or be- 
low it. He had on Manannan’s breast-plate, 
which no weapon could pierce. In the front of 
his helmet were two glittering precious stones; 
and one shone from the back. Also, at his left 
side hung ManannaiTs sword, “The Answerer” ; 

Usna [Oos ' na] : This hill is in Westmeath, about ten milesjfrom Ath- 
lone, the center of Eire. Lugha the Ildana [Loo' ah the El dan 'ah]: 
The All-Knowing-One; the Gaelic Apollo. Manannan Mac Lir 
[Man'-na-nan Mac Leer]: Son of the Sea; the Gaelic Neptune. 


10 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


and whenever he took off his helmet his face 
glowed like the sun on a dry day in summer. 

Hardly were the greetings of the king and the 
Ildana over when another company was seen ap- 
proaching the hill of Usna. Nine times nine 
surly, Fomorian tax-gatherers were coming to 
demand their yearly tribute from the men of Eire. 

When they reached the place where the king 
sat, the entire assembly — the king included — rose 
up before the tax-gatherers. Then the Ildana 
spoke to the king and said: “Why hast thou, 
O King, arisen before this hateful looking com- 
pany ?” 

“We dare not do otherwise” answered the king, 
“for if even an infant a month old should remain 
seated before them, they would deem it good 
cause for killing us all.” 

Lugha, the Ildana, brooded over this in silence 
for a while, and then he said: “Of a truth, I feel 
a great desire to kill all these men!” 

“Thy deed would only bring evil upon us,” said 
King Nuada, “for then the Fomorians would 
send an army to destroy us all.” 

Nevertheless the Ildana, vowing that the peo- 
ple should no longer be oppressed, started up and 
rushing upon the Fomorians dealt red slaughter 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


11 


among them. Neither did he hold his hand until 
he had slain them all except nine. These he 
spared because they had implored the protection 
of the king. 

After Lugha had put his sword back into its 
scabbard, he said to the nine living tax-collectors : 
“I would slay you also ; did I not wish you to go 
and tell your king and all the nations what you 
have seen this day in Eire. 

The nine men then returned to their own coun- 
try. When they had told their story, King Balor 
of the mighty Blows asked them the name of the 
warrior who had wrought such woe to his 
Fomorians. 

“Behold, O Kin g,” said they, “on the hill of 
Usna, in Eire, by the hand of a single man hath 
our number been thus diminished; but the name 
of the champion we cannot tell thee.” 

But Kethlenda, the Queen, said: “This must 
be the Ildana. It has been foretold that he would 
oppose our sway in Eire.” 

King Balor then called a council of the Fomor- 
ians. Among those who came to his palace of 
Berva were Luath, the story teller; Sotal of the 
large heels, Tinna of Triscadel; Loskina of the 
bare knees; Lobas the Druid; and also the nine 

Kethlenda [Kell'yan] ; Inniskillen is named for this Queen. Berva 
[Bar'vah]. This place is constantly spoken of in Irish Folk Tales 
as the chief stronghold of the Lochlanns. It is believed by some to 
be the same as the modern Bergen in Norway. Luath [Loo 'ah]. 


12 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


prophetic poets and philosophers of the Fomor- 
ians. 

They could not decide what to do until Breas, 
the son of Balor, bitter with the thought of his 
banishment from the throne of Eire, arose and 
said : “l will go to Eire with seven great battal- 
lions of the Fomorian army; and I will give battle 
to Ildana ; and I will bring his head to the palace 
of Berva.” 

All the chiefs agreed to have him go. 

Ships were made ready for the ocean voyage. 
Their seams were calked with pitch, and filled 
with sweet smelling frankincense. Abundant 
food and war stores were also provided. 

When the fighting men had been gathered to- 
gether, they arrayed themselves in battle dress 
and set out for Eire. 

As they were about to embark, Balor said: 
'When your work of conquest is over, put your 
cables around this island of Eire and tie it to the 
sterns of your ships, and take it to the northern 
side of Lochlann and there leave it. Then will it 
give us no more trouble.” 

Breas and his batallions hoisted their many col- 
ored sails, loosed their moorings and were wafted 
out upon the wide sea. They did not slacken 

Sotal [Sut'tle]. Tris' ca del. Loskina [Lus' kin na]. Druid, 
in Gaelic Draoi [Dhree]; Tree worshipers; a class set apart and con- 
secrated to religion and the preservation of genealogies. All civil 
rights were based on the patriarchal system. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


13 


speed until they reached the harbor of Eas Dara. 
Here they landed and immediately began to spoil 
and waste the province of Olnecmacht, where 
Bove Derg was king. 

Eas [Ahs] : Waterfall. Harbor of Eas Dara is found on Ptolomy’s map. 
See New Ireland Review, Vol. 26. Olnecmacht: Very ancient 
name of Connacht. 




14 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


CHAPTER II. 

The news of what they had done came to the 
Ildana at Teamhair; so the following morning 
early, when the point of night met day, he de- 
parted on his steed, Enbar of the flowing mane, 
and rode westward toward the palace of Bove 
Derg. 

He had not traveled far when he saw, at a 
distance, three warriors fully armed riding 
toward him. These men were Kian, Ku and 
Kethen, the sons of Canta. Kian was Lugha’s 
father, and when they met they saluted each other, 
and Kian asked his son why he was thus speeding 
toward the west. 

“I am going to give battle to the Fomorians, 
for they have wasted the kingdom of Bove Derg.” 

When the warriors heard this they said : 
“We will go to battle with you, and each of us will 
ward off a hundred Fomorians.” 

“But first,” said the Ildana, “I wish you to sum- 
mon the Fairy Host to fight with me.” 

This the sons of Canta with one accord con- 
sented to do, and forthwith they separated. Ku 
and Kethen fared south; while Kian rode north- 
ward until he came to Magh Murthemna. 

Teamhair [Tow'er]: present Tara. Kian [Key' an]. Ku [Kuh]. 

Kethen [Ka' yenn]. Canta [Kant' yah], Magh Murthemna: 

[Maw Mur hey' na]. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


15 


As he journeyed over the plain he met the three 
sons of Tuireann: Brian, Ur and Urcar, who 
were at deadly feud with the three sons of Canta. 

“If my brothers were with me now, we should 
have a brave fight, but as I am only one against 
three it is better to avoid the combat,” thought 
Kian. Looking around he saw a herd of swine 
near by, so he struck himself with a golden, druid- 
ical wand, and turned himself into a pig. 

No sooner had he done this than Brian said 
to his brothers : “Tell me, my brothers, what has 
become of the warrior that we saw just now ap- 
proaching us on the plain ?” 

“We have seen him” they answered, “but we 
know not whither he has gone.” 

“Well, I can tell you what has happened to the 
warrior, “said Brian. “He has changed himself 
by a druidical spell into a pig; and is now among 
yonder herd ; and, whoever he may be, one thing 
is sure : he is no friend of ours.” 

“This is an unlucky matter,” said the brothers, 
“for even if we should kill the entire herd of 
pigs, the enchanted one might escape.” 

“There is but one thing to do,” said Brian, and 
then he struck his brothers with his golden, druid- 
ical wand, and turned them into two fleet, slender 

Tuireann [Ther'an], Brian [Bree' an]. 


16 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


sharp-nosed hounds. The moment he had done 
this, the hounds put their noses to the earth and 
set off toward the pigs. 

When the druidical pig saw them coming, it 
made toward a thick spinney that grew near by. 
But Brian was there before him and drove a spear 
through its chest. The pig screamed and said: 
“You have done an ill deed to cast your spear at 
me, for you know very well who I am.” 

“Your voice, methinks, is the voice of a man,” 
said Brian, “but I know not who you are.” 

“I am Kian, the son of Canta,” said the pig, 
“and I pray you give me quarter.” 

Brian’s brothers had regained their own shapes 
by this time and they said: “Quarter you shall 
have indeed, and we are very sorry for what has 
happened you.” 

But Brian stepping between them said: “I 
swear by the gods of the air, that if your life re- 
turned to you seven times, yet would I take it 
from you seven times.” 

“Then,” said Kian, “since you will not grant 
me quarter, allow me first to return to my own 
shape.” 

“That I will grant you,” said Brian, “for I 
often find it easier to kill a man than to kill a pig.” 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 17 

Kian, accordingly, took his own shape. Then 
he said to the sons of Tuireann: “You are indeed 
about to slay me; but, even so, I have outwitted 
you. If you had slain me in the shape of a pig 
you would have had to pay only the eric-fine for 
a pig, whereas, now that I am in my own shape 
you shall pay the full eric-fine for a man. And 
never has there been so great a fine as that which 
you shall pay.” 

Nevertheless, Brian and his brothers slew Kian 
and they buried him a man’s height in the earth. 
But the earth, being angry at their wicked deed, 
refused to keep the body. Not until they had 
buried it the seventh time did it remain in the 
ground. When the last turf was laid, and they 
turned to go away, a voice spoke from the earth 
saying : 

“The blood you have spilled, 

The hero you have killed, 

Shall follow your steps ’till the doom be fulfilled.” 

Lugha, the Ildana, meanwhile, had traveled 
westward until he reached Ath-Luan; and then 
the Curlieu hills ; and finally came to the 
mountain of Kesh-Corran and the great plain of 
the assembly, where the foreigners were en- 


Ath Luan [Aw Loo' an]: Present town of Athlone. 
in County Sligo. 


Curlieu hills : 


18 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


camped with the spoils of Olnecmacht around 
them. 

As Lugha drew near the Fomorian encamp- 
ment, Breas, the son of Balor, arose and said he: 
“A wonderful thing has come to pass this day, 
for the sun, it seems to me, has risen in the west !” 

“It would be better were it so,” said the Druids, 
“but the light you see is the brightness of the 
face, and the flashing of the weapons of Lugha, 
the Ildana, our deadly enemy; he who slew our 
tax-gatherers.” 

By this time the Ildana had come up to them, 
and he peacefully saluted them. 

“How comes it that you salute us,” said they, 
“since you are, as we well know, our enemy?” 

“Enemy though you think me, I am now come 
in peace and good will to ask you to send back to 
the people of Bove Derg all the milch cows which 
you have taken from them.” 

“May ill luck follow thee until thou get one of 
them,” said the Fomorian leaders in loud, angry 
voices. 

But, nevertheless, the Ildana straightway put 
a druidical spell upon the plundered cattle and 
sent every milch cow home to the door of her 
owner's house. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


19 


Before the Fomorians could recover from their 
surprise, the Fairy Host arrived. They placed 
themselves under the Ildana’ s command; and they 
made ready for the fight. 

The Ildana put on Manannan’s coat of mail 
and his breast-plate. He took also his helmet 
which is called Cannbar; and his broad, dark- 
blue shield he slung from one shoulder. His 
sword hung from his thigh; and, in his hand he 
grasped his two spears, tempered in the blood 
of adders. 

When the chiefs and men were all arrayed in 
battle rank, hedges of glittering spears rose high 
above their heads. Their shields, placed edge to 
edge, formed a firm fence around them. They 
advanced against the Fomorians, and the Fomor- 
ians, in no degree dismayed, answered their on- 
set. 

Clouds of whizzing javelins flew through the 
air; spears were shivered; and, from the gold- 
hilted swords a forest of bright flames arose, as 
they clashed above the helmets. 

When finally Breas was compelled to sue for 
quarter from the Ildana, all the Fomorians 
dropped their arms and came to him to ask him 
to spare their lives. 


20 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


The Ildana said to them: “I do not wish to 
slay you ; return, you and your leader to your own 
country; and there relate the deeds of prowess 
you have seen in Eire.” So they departed. 

Lugha missed his father, Kian, in the fight. 
“My father is not alive,” said he, “for if he lived 
he would surely have come to help me in the bat- 
tle. And now I swear that neither food nor 
drink will I take until I find his slayer and the 
manner of his death.” 

Accordingly he set out with a small band, and 
hastened to the plain of Murthemna, where Kian 
had been forced to take the shape of a pig. 

And it chanced that they came to the very spot 
where Kian had been slain. Then the stones of 
the earth spoke beneath their feet saying: “Here 
lies thy father, O Ildana! Grievous was Kian's 
strait when he was forced to take the shape of a 
pig, on seeing the three sons of Tuireann. 
And on this very spot they slew him in his own 
shape. 

“The blood they have spilled ; 

The hero they have killed, 

Shall darken their lives ’till the doom be fulfilled.” 

Then the Ildana caused a stone to be raised 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


21 


above his father’s grave, and his name engraved 
in Ogham. After this his lamentation lays were 
sung and his funeral games performed. 

Then the Ildana and his followers went to 
Teamhair. They entered the banqueting hall 
where the king and his nobles were assembled. 
The Ildana, looking around the hall, saw the 
three sons of Tuireann seated among the others. 
He hastened to exchange greetings with Nuada, 
the king. Then he asked the royal permission 
that the chain of silence might be shaken. When 
the silver music of the bells had died away, and all 
were listening, Lugha, the Ildana, stood up and 
said : “O gracious nobles of the De Danann race, 
I perceive that you have given me your attention ; 
and now, I have a question to put to each man 
here present: What vengeance should be taken 
for the murder of a father?” 

All were filled with amazement to hear the 
Ildana ask this question. Then the King’s voice 
broke the deep silence: “Explain thy meaning. 
Why hast thou put this question to us? Surely, 
as we all know, thy father has not been killed.” 

“My father has indeed been killed,” said the 
Ildana, and I now see here in this hall those who 
slew him. And furthermore, I know the manner 

Ogham [O' am]: The most ancient manner of writing or making records 
known to Gaels of Eire. There are many stones inscribed in Ogham 
still extant. 


22 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


in which they put him to death; even as they 
themselves know it.” 

The sons of Tuireann hearing all this said 
nothing. But the king declared that if anyone 
had willfully slain Kian he should atone for the 
deed with his life. 

Each noble said the same ; as did also the sons 
of Tuireann. 

“The persons who slew my father are here 
present, and are joining with the rest in this judg- 
ment” said the Ildana. “Let all bear witness 
that my claim is just and honorable when I de- 
mand, not their lives, but that they shall pay to 
me a certain eric-fine.” 

Then Brian arose and said: “It is of me thou 
speakest, O Ildana, for it has been said that the 
three sons of Tuireann have been at enmity with 
the three sons of Canta. We shall not say 
whether we have slain thy father or not ; but, we 
are willing to pay an eric-fine even as if we had 
killed him.” 

“I shall accept the eric-fine from you” said the 
Ildana, “and I now name before this assembly the 
fine I ask: The first part is three apples; the 
second part, the skin of a pig; the third part a 
spear; the fourth two steeds and a chariot; the 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 23 

fifth seven pigs; the sixth a hound whelp; the 
seventh a cooking spit, and the eighth three 
shouts on a hill. This is my eric-fine O sons of 
Tuireann, and it will be for you to set about 
paying it without delay.” 

“We do not deem thy eric-fine too great, Ildana, 
but we fear some hidden snare in what you ask,” 
said Brian. 

“The fine I have named, and that only, will sat- 
isfy me for the death of my father” replied the 
Ildana. “Moreover, I demand that we enter into 
a covenant, namely : I not to increase my claim ; 
thou to pay the full fine required of thee.” 
So they bound themselves on either side ; and the 
king and nobles of Eire were witnesses and sure- 
ties of the bond. 

Then the Ildana, arising, said : “Listen, O sons 
of Tuireann, the three apples I ask are the three 
apples of the garden of ITisberna in the western 
end of the world — and no other will I have. Their 
color is the color of burnished gold, and they have 
the taste of honey. A champion possessing one of 
them may perform with it any feat he pleases, by 
merely casting it from his hand. Nor will he lose 
the apple for it will return again to him of it- 
self. The pig’s skin I seek belongs to the king of 


Hisberna: Hesperides. 


24 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


Greece. This magical skin will turn water into 
wine. It will also heal all the sick and wounded 
people who touch it. The spear which ye must 
bring me is the venomed spear of Pezar, king of 
the East. In the time of peace, its blazing, fiery 
head is always kept in a caldron of water to pre- 
vent it from burning down the king’s palace. In 
time of war its bearer is invincible. The two 
steeds and the chariot belong to Dobar, king of 
Segar. With these steeds and chariot, one travels 
as well on the sea as on the land. The seven pigs I 
demand belong to the king of the Golden Pillars. 
Though these pigs should be killed and eaten to- 
day, they will be alive and well tomorrow. The 
hound whelp belongs to the king of Iroda. His 
name is Failinis; and all beasts of the forest fall 
powerless before him. The cooking spit belongs 
to the warlike women of Fincara. They are thrice 
fifty in number, and each of them is a match for 
three good warriors in single combat. These 
women of Fincara have never been known to 
give a cooking spit to anyone without being first 
overcome in battle. The hill on which you must 
give three shouts is the hill of Midkenna in the 
north of Lochlann. Midkenna and his sons al- 
ways guard this hill, and are under geasa to 

Failinis [Fawl'een ish]. Iroda [Er'oo ah]: Norway. Midkenna: 
The ungentle; Gaelic: Meochavin [Mee' o keen], Geasa [gas'sah]: 
mystical bonds or obligations, corresponding to the obligations under 
which the knights of the middle ages placed themselves. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


25 


allow no one to shout on it. And should you 
procure all things that I have mentioned you 
shall not, I think, succeed in shouting on the 
hill; for, Midkenna and his sons were my fa- 
ther's friends and loved him very much; and 
they will be sure to avenge on you my father's 
death." 

The sons of Tuireann were so much astonished 
on hearing this eric-fine, that they spoke not one 
word ; but arose and left the meeting and repaired 
to the house of their father. 


26 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


CHAPTER III 

Tuireann heard their story to the end; then he 
said: “Your tidings are very bad, my sons. It 
was an evil thing to kill Kian, and I fear you 
are doomed to meet your death in seeking what 
the Ildana demands. In the Boyne river, near 
the palace of Angus, lies Manannan’s canoe, 
“The Wave Sweeper.” Secure this canoe and 
by its aid you may be able to reach Hisberna and 
obtain the magic apples. So they set out for 
Bruga of the Boyne; and with them was their 
sister Eithne. 

They found the canoe lying in the river. 
Brian, stepping into it said: “It seems to me 
there is room for but one more person beside my- 
self in the canoe.” He began to complain bitterly 
of its size; but ceased when Eithne told him that 
the canoe would assume larger dimensions when 
they came to try it. Eithne was aware that it 
had the power of becoming large or small 
according to the number of people who were to 
sail in it. 

After all preparations were over, the three 
brothers bade their sister farewell and entered 
the canoe. They found it large enough to hold 

Bruga [Broo' ah]: A palace; Braga of the Boyne: The residence of 
the chiefs of the Tuatha De Danann. Eithne [A' nah]. Canoe: 
Gaelic [Kur' rah]. Manannan’s canoe: A cloud which becomes 
larger or smaller, according to the number of raindrops in it. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


27 


themselves and their arms, and everything else 
they wished to take with them. 

As they quickly sped across the deep sea 
chasms and green-sided waves on their way to 
Hisberna, they held council as to what course 
they would pursue in their quest for the golden 
apples. 

Brian spoke; and said he: “Let us take the 
shape of strong, swift hawks; then, as we ap- 
proach the garden, let us have a care for the 
light, sharp lances of the guards. These lances 
the guards will certainly hurl at us. We must 
avoid them actively and cunningly; and when 
they have no more left to throw, let us swoop 
down and fetch away an apple each.” 

To this they all agreed. Changing themselves 
into three beautiful hawks they flew swiftly over 
the tops of the trees. 

The sharp-eyed guards perceived them, and 
with great shouting and clamor hurled venomed 
darts at them. But the hawks escaped, every one. 

When there were no more darts to throw, 
fluttering their wings above the baffled guards, 
the hawks flew into the trees. After resting a 
moment, they rose in the air again unhurt and 
happy. The younger brothers carried off an 


28 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


apple apiece; but Brian brought two with him; 
one in his talons, and one in his beak. 

The king of Hisberna and his people were very 
angry, on discovering that the hawks had car- 
ried off their apples. A council, was called to 
consider how best the deed might be avenged. 

Now the king’s three daughters were skilled 
in magic; and cunning in council. So it was 
finally determined that they should transform 
themselves into three swift, winged griffins and 
pursue the hawks over the sea. 

Immediately then, they hastened away. From 
their eyes and beaks they let fly bright flashes 
of flame to blind and scorch the hawks. 

“Evil is our state,” now said the two younger 
brothers as they beheld their most beautiful wing 
feathers crisping and crumbling in smoky dust 
through the heated air — “evil indeed is our state 
and we will surely perish if we do not get 
relief.” 

“It is my good fortune still to have power to 
change our forms,” said Brian. Then, by his 
druidical magic, he instantly turned himself and 
his brothers into swans, and they all dropped 
down on to the sea. 

The griffins, no longer beholding the hawks 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


29 


before them, gave up the chase, and the sons of 
Tuireann, without further delay, went to their 
canoe fetching their apples with them. 

Then they set sail again and glided swiftly and 
smoothly over the waters until they came to 
Greece. And when they had landed, Brian said 
to his brothers: “In what shape, think you, 
should we go to the king’s court?” 

“We think it best to go in our own shapes,” 
answered the others, “that is to say as three bold 
champions.” 

“Not so,” said Brian, “to me it seems best that 
we should go in guise of learned poets from Eire, 
for poets are held in much honor by the nobles 
of Greece.” “How shall we do that?” asked the 
brothers, “for as to poems, we neither have any 
with us, nor do we know how to compose them.” 

But Brian would not have it any other way, 
so they consented, though unwillingly. They 
tied up their hair after the manner of poets and 
going directly to the palace knocked at the door. 
The door-keeper asked who was there. “We are 
skillful poets from Eire,” said Brian, and have 
come to Greece with a poem for the king.” 

The door-keeper departed to give the message. 

“Let them be brought in,” said the king, “for 


30 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


it is to seek a good and bountiful master, whom 
they may serve faithfully that they have come so 
far from Eire.” 

So they were shown into the banquet hall, 
where the king sat surrounded by his nobles. 
Bowing low they saluted him; and he in turn 
saluted them. They joined the feast at once 
and made merry as did the others. And they 
thought they had never seen a banquet hall more 
grand or a household so numerous and mirthful. 

At the proper time the king's poets arose, and 
according to custom recited their poems for the 
company. When they had finished, Brian re- 
quested attention for his poem, and, forthwith, 
in clear, musical accents spoke the following 
lines : 

“To praise thee, O Tuis, we’ve come to this land. 

Like an oak among shrubs, over kings thou dost stand. 
The honor be ours thy great deeds to rehearse 
And claim but a pig skin in pay for our verse. 

Two neighbors shall war with an O to an O; — 

A bard unrequited — how dreadful a foe ! 

Thy bounty shall add to my wealth and thy fame, 

And the imnocta fessa is all that we claim.” 

“Your poem would doubtless be thought very 
good, if one were able to judge of it,” said the 


Tuis (Toosh). 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


31 


king. “But it is unlike all other poems I have 
ever heard, and I do not in the least understand 
its meaning.” 

“Listen, while I unfold it then,” said Brian. 

“To praise thee, O Tuis, we’ve come to this land; 

Like an oak among shrubs, over kings thou dost stand.” 

“This means that as the oak excels all other 
trees of the forest, so dost thou excel all other 
kings of the world for greatness, nobility and 
generosity.” 

“ Tmnocta fessa’ — Imnocta means skin ; fessa 
means pig; that is to say, O King, thou hast the 
skin of a pig which I desire to obtain from thee 
as a guerdon for my poetry.” 

“Two neighbors shall war with an O to an O; 

A bard unrequited — how dreadful a foe.” 

“O means an ear; that is to say, O King, thou 
and I shall be ear to ear fighting with each other 
for the skin, if thou give it not of thy own free 
will. And this, O King, is the meaning of my 
poem.” 

“Thy poem would have been a very good one, 


32 GAELIC FOLK TALES 

and I should have given it due meed of praise, if 
my pig skin had not been mentioned in it. It is 
a foolish request of thine, O Ferdana, for even if 
all the poets and men of science in Eire, and in 
the whole world beside, were to demand that skin 
from me I would refuse it. Nevertheless,” con- 
tinued the king, “thou shalt not pass unrewarded, 
for I will give thee thrice the full of the skin 
of red gold: one portion for thyself, and one for 
each of thy brothers.” 

“Thy ransom is a good one, O King,” said 
Brian, “but I am a near-hearted and suspicious 
man, and I pray thee let me see with my own 
eyes thy servants measure the gold ; lest they deal 
unfairly with me.” 

t The king granted his request, and the three 
sons of Tuireann went with the servants to the 
treasure room. 

But no sooner had they begun to measure the 
gold, than Brian, suddenly sprang toward them. 
He dashed them fiercely to the ground; and 
snatching the pig skin bound it hastily over his 
shoulders. 

Then the three sons of Tuireann drew their 
keen swords and rushed into the banquet hall. 
The king's nobles seeing how matters stood, sur- 


Ferdan'a: Man of Poetry; Fer: man; Latin Vir; dan: poet. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


33 


rounded and attacked them. But the sons of 
Tuireann, nothing daunted by the number of 
their foes, hewed down the foremost and scat- 
tered the rest. 

Scarcely one of the party escaped death or 
deadly wounds. At last Brian and the King met 
face to face and fought as great champions fight; 
fought until the king of Greece fell by the over- 
powering valor of the sons of Tuireann. 

After the victory the three brothers rested in 
the palace, and healed their wounds by means 
of the apples and the pig-skin. 
i At the end of three days and three nights they 
started on their next adventure. 

They went on board the canoe, and soon left 
behind them the lovely shores of Greece. Across 
the wide seas they swiftly sped, and finally landed 
near the palace of Pezar, king of the East. 

Having fared so well in their last undertak- 
ing, they resolved to put on the guise of poets 
this time also. 

They tied their hair in the poet’s knot; and, 
passing through the outer gate, knocked at the 
door of the palace. 

The door-keeper asked who they were; and 
from what country they had come. 


34 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


“We are poets from Eire,” answered Brian, 
“and we have brought a poem for the king.” 

The door-keeper admitted them, and they were 
conducted to the presence of the king. The king 
welcomed them and seated them among the 
nobles of his household. They joined in the 
revelry of the banquet hall, and when the proper 
time came, the king’s poets arose and chanted 
their songs. 

After all the poems had been rehearsed, and 
the sounds of applause had ceased, Brian arose. 
The king and nobles seeing him were silent and 
listened while he recited his poem: 

“In royal state may Pezar ever reign ; 

Like some vast yew tree monarch of the plain. 

May Pezar’s mystic javelin, long and bright, 

Bring slaughter to his foes in every fight. 

When Pezar fights and shakes his dreadful spear, 
Whole armies fly ; and heroes quake with fear. 

What shielded foe, what champion can withstand 
The blazing spear in mighty Pezar’s hand !” 


“Your poem is a good one,” said the king, “but 
why do you make mention of my spear, without 
having first obtained permission of me? Were 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


35 


you not aware that it is not permitted to even 
the greatest in my kingdom to speak of my spear, 
unless I have first given him the privilege ?” 

“This I knew not, O Pezar, and thy telling it 
hath but increased the ardor of the wish which 
hath inspired my song. For I desire thy blazing 
spear, O Pezar, as a reward for my poem.” 

“Your wish is a very foolish one,” said the 
king. “No man ever escaped punishment if he 
asked me for my spear. The highest reward I 
could now grant you, and the greatest favor these 
nobles could now obtain for you, is that I should 
spare your life.” 

Thereupon, Brian and his brothers started up 
in great wrath and drew their swords. In like 
manner, the king and his nobles drew their 
swords, and they fought a deadly fight. But 
Brian in the midst of the combat, drawing forth 
one of his apples, cast it at the king, and he fell 
pierced through the brain. 

Then the frightened nobles fled, until no one 
remained in the banquet hall but the sons of 
Tuireann. They searched the palace for the 
room where the spear was kept. At last they 
found it with its head down deep in a great 
caldron of water which hissed and bubbled 


36 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


around it. Brian, seizing it boldly in his hand, 
drew it forth. Then the three brothers left the 
palace and went to their canoe. There they re- 
joiced together, because they had now succeeded 
in securing three, parts of the eric-fine. 

After resting some days, they set out to seek 
for the steeds and the chariot of the King of 
Segar, for this was the next part of the Ildana’s 
eric fine. 

Obedient to their command, the canoe glided 
rapidly and smoothly over the green waves. At 
last they landed on the wished-for shore; and 
then Brian said: “In what shape, think you, 
should we go to this court ?” 

“Let us go,” said the others, “in our own 
shapes, as three hostile champions, who have 
come to get the chariot and steeds either by force 
or by good will.” 

“That is not what seems best to me,” said 
Brian. “My council is that we go as soldiers 
from Eire, willing to serve for pay. Then, should 
the king take us into his service, it is likely we 
shall find out where the chariot and the steeds 
are kept.” 

So, forthwith, as soldiers from Eire they went 
to the palace. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


37 


There the king was holding a fair-meeting on 
the broad, level green of the palace park. When 
the three warriors came near, the people made 
way for them. They bowed low to the king; 
and he asked them who they were and from 
what part of the world they had come. 

“We are valiant soldiers from Eire,” they an- 
swered, “seeking service and pay among the 
great kings of the world.” 

“Do you wish to enter my service?” asked the 
king. 

“It is with that desire we have come to Segar,” 
said they. 

So they made a covenant with each other: 
The king to place them in a post of honor and 
trust. They to serve him faithfully and to name 
their own reward. 

They were placed in the ranks of King Dobar’s 
body-guard. For a month and a fortnight they 
remained in the palace, looking around, and care- 
fully noting everything. However, they saw 
nothing of the chariot and the steeds. 

At the end of the fortnight, Brian said to his 
brothers : “It fares ill with us here, my brothers, 
for we know no more about the chariot and 
steeds than we did the day we first came thither. 


38 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


Let us put on our travelling array and take our 
arms of valor in our hands. In this fashion, let 
us go before the king, and tell him that unless he 
shows us the chariot and steeds we shall leave 
his service.” 

This they did without delay. 

When they were come before the king, he 
asked them why they had come into his presence 
thus armed and in travelling guise. 

“Of that we have come to tell thee, O king,” 
answered Brian. “Heretofore the kings whom 
we have served have trusted us with their secret 
councils. We have been made the guardians of 
their rarest jewels, and of gifted arms of victory. 
But thou, O king, hast not even shown us thy 
chariot and steeds, which we have heard exceed 
in magnificence all the chariots and steeds in the 
world.” 

“A small thing it is that has caused you to 
prepare for departure,” said the king, “and there 
is, moreover, no need that you should leave my 
service. You shall see the steeds this very day; 
and you should have seen them before had I 
known of your desire, for I have never had in 
my service more trustworthy soldiers.” 

The king then sent for the steeds and had them 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


39 


yoked to the chariot. Those steeds that were as 
fleet as the clear, cold wind of March, and that 
traveled with equal speed on land and on sea! 

Brian, viewing them narrowly, said: “Hear 
me, O King of Segar! We have served thee 
faithfully up to this time, and now we wish to 
name our own pay, according to the covenant 
thou hast made with us. The guerdon we de- 
mand is yonder chariot and steeds. Give us these 
and we shall ask for nothing more.” 

But the king in great wrath, said: “Foolish 
and luckless men, ye shall certainly die because 
ye have asked for my steeds.” 

The king and his warriors then drew their 
swords and rushed toward the sons of Tuireann, 
thinking to seize them. The attack was ex- 
pected and a sore fight began. Suddenly, Brian 
sprang with a bound into the chariot and, dash- 
ing the charioteer to the ground, seized the reins 
in his left hand. Then, raising the venomed 
spear of Pezar in his right, he smote the king 
with its fiery point, so that he fell to the ground 
and expired. And when the red slaughter of the 
fight was over, there was no one left to dispute 
with the three brothers the possession of the char- 
iot. 


40 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


Ur and Urcar asked where they should go 
next. 

“We shall go” said Brian, “to Asal, the king 
of the Golden Pillars to ask for his seven pigs: 
for this is the next part of the eric-fine.” 

Therewith they started. As they drew near to 
the land of the Golden Pillars they saw that the 
shore was lined with men all armed, for the fame 
of the deeds of the great champions of Eire 
was being noised abroad through many lands: 
How they had been forced to leave Eire by the 
hard sentence of the Ildana, and how they were 
seeking and bearing away the most precious 
things of all the world's kingdoms to pay the 
Ildana's eric-fine. 

On account of these reports, the king of the 
Golden Pillars had armed his people; and had 
sent them to guard the harbors. 

The king himself came down to the beach to 
meet them. As soon as they were come within 
speaking distance, he bade them stay their course. 
Then he asked in angry tones if they were the 
three champions from Eire ; they who had over- 
come and slain so many kings. 

Brian answered: “Be not displeased with us, 
O king, for in all this matter we are not to blame. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


41 


We must pay the eric-fine promised to the Ildana. 
If the kings to whom he sent us had given us 
peaceably the precious things we demanded, we 
would have departed always in the same good 
will as that in which we came. But, meeting ill 
will and opposition, we have been compelled to 
fight for the attainment of our end. Unwillingly, 
indeed, have we fought, yet none so far have been 
able to withstand us.” 

'Tell me now” said the king, "What has 
brought you to our country?” 

"We have come for thy seven pigs” said Brian, 
"for they are a part of our fine. Thou perchance 
wilt have pity on our hardships, and give us these 
pigs in token of kindness and friendship and not 
compel us to fetch them away by force.” 

On hearing this, the king and his people 
went into council. After debating the matter, 
they thought best to give the pigs peaceably, for 
they feared they might not be able to resist the 
power of the sons of Tuireann. 

So the king invited the three champions to 
his palace. They ate and drank and slept on 
downy beds. When they arose the next morn- 
ing, they were brought into the king’s presence, 
and the pigs were given them. Then Brian, bow- 


42 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


in g low before the king spoke these words: 

“Thanks for the guerdon thou hast given, 

Great king of Sicily ; 

Thy welcome unto Tuireann’s sons 
Shall long remembered be. 

And when our deeds in happier days 
Shall bring us praise and fame 
In Eire green shall poet lays 
Commemorate thy name.” 

“Whither go ye next, ye sons of Tuireann?” 
asked Asal. 

“We go.” answered Brian, “into Iroda, for 
Failinis, the king's hound whelp.” 

“My daughter is the king's wife,” said Asal, 
“and I will go with you to Iroda, and may be able 
to persuade him for her sake to give you the 
hound whelp freely and without battle.” 

“It gives me joy, O King, to accept your prof- 
fered aid, for often in the struggles which I have 
had heretofore in the quest for the eric-fine, I 
have wished for the help of a strong and friendly 
hand.” 

King Asal wished the journey to be made in 
his own ship; so he commanded his soldiers to 
get it ready. Then all went on board, taking 
with them much wealth. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


43 


And it is not told how they fared until they 
reached the kingdom of Iroda. 

When they arrived, the shores were lined with 
fierce, armed men, who were there by order of 
the king to guard the harbor. These men 
shouted to the crew of Asal’s ships a warning 
to come no further. They well knew it could 
be no other than the sons of Tuireann, bent on 
acquiring that part of their eric-fine which was 
the property of the king of Iroda. 

“Stay here for a while and await my return,” 
said King Asal, to the sons of Tuireann. “It is 
best that I should go on shore alone and meet 
my son-in-law.” 

Accordingly he landed and went to the king, 
who, after he had welcomed him, asked what had 
brought the sons of Tuireann to his country. 

“They have come for your hound whelp,” 
answered King Asal, “and I beg you to give it 
freely and without battle.” 

“It was an evil council you followed when you 
came with these men to my shores,” said the 
king, “for no champions in all the world have 
ever received from the gods strength and favor 
sufficient to enable them to obtain possession of 


44 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


my hound whelp either by force or by my own 
free wilL ,, 

“It will be unwise of you to refuse them,” re- 
plied King Asal. “They have gifted arms, that 
no warrior, however powerful, can withstand. 
Numbers nor power can daunt them; and, having 
your welfare at heart, I have come thither to ad- 
vise you to give them your hound whelp in 
peace.” 

But King Asal’s words were only thrown away 
on the king of Iroda and he angrily refused Asal’s 
request, and spoke with scornful words of the 
sons of Tuireann. 

Asal, very much troubled because of the re- 
sult of his talk with the king of Iroda, returned 
to the ship where the sons of Tuireann were 
anxiously awaiting him. 

When they heard how matters stood, without 
delay they put on their battle dress; and, taking 
their arms in their hands, challenged the king of 
Iroda and his people. 

Then began a fierce and bloody battle. Though 
nothing could stand before the sons of Tuireann, 
yet the warriors of Iroda were many and very 
brave. 

During the course of the fight, the two younger 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


45 


brothers became separated from Brian, and he 
was completely surrounded by hostile champions. 
But, when he wielded the blazing spear of Pezar 
with its deadly point, his foes fled before him. 
Well they knew it would be useless to resist the 
venom of that dreadful spear. 

At length, Brian spied the king of Iroda. 
Bravely he was fighting; hedged round-a-bout by 
shining spears. 

Brian rushed through the thick of the battle 
straight toward him, striking down spears and 
swords and men as he went. The king saw him 
coming, and commanded his men to fall back. 
Then he and Brian fought like valiant warriors 
hand to hand. Powerful, alert and fierce were 
both, and it was long before any advantage was 
gained on either side. 

Brian seemed the more wrathful of the two; 
yet he held back his hand, for he sought to tire 
out his foe, not to slay him. The end of it all 
was that Brian succeeded in seizing the king in 
his strong arms. He lifted him ofif the ground 
and bore him to where Asal stood. Then setting 
him down he said: “Behold thy son-in-law. It 
would have been easier three times over to have 


46 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


killed him than to have brought him to thee 
alive/’ 

When the people saw their king a prisoner, 
they ceased fighting and peace was made. Also, 
the hound whelp was given over to the sons of 
Tuireann. They then took their leave and sailed 
away from the shores of Iroda in peace and 
friendship with the King; and with Asal, his 
father-in-law. 

Meanwhile the Ildana was preparing for an- 
other battle with the Fomorians; a battle which 
should be known as the second battle of Magh 
Tuireadh. 

The great Leech, Diancecht; the skillful smith, 
Goibnu; the Dagda and Ogma, — these were the 
ones who met secretly with the Ildana to prepare 
the plan of battle. They left nothing undone 
which might help them to a victory over their 
strong and vengeful foe. 

By this time, Ku and Kethen, the sons of Canta 
had returned. With them came the Fairy Host, 
which they had marshalled together from every- 
where in Eire. 

But one thing more remained to be done: It 
had been revealed to Lugha, the Ildana, that the 
sons of Tuireann had now obtained all those 


Diancecht [Dee ' yan Ka ' yacht]. Goibnu [Goin ' [coin] yu]. Dagda 

[Daw' dah]. Ogma[0'ma]: gods of the Tuatha De Danann, the 
chief of whom was the Dagda. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


47 


parts of the eric-fine which he deemed necessary 
to insure success in the approaching conflict. 

So he sent after them a druidical spell, which 
caused them, soon after they left Iroda, to for- 
get the cooking spit and the three shouts on 
Midkena’s hill, and filled them with great long- 
ing to return to their native home. 

Accordingly, they set sail without delay for 
the shores of Eire, taking with them the parts 
of the fine which they had already secured. 


48 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


CHAPTER IV. 

Now it happened that the Ildana was with the 
king at a fair meeting on the plain before Team- 
hair. And it was made known to him secretly 
that the sons of Tuireann had landed at Bruga 
of the Boyne. 

He left the assembly, telling none, and went 
directly to the fortress of Rath-ree ; and, closing 
the gates and doors after himself, he put on the 
smooth, Greek armor of Manannan MacLir and 
the enchanted mantle of Flidas. 

Soon after this the sons of Tuireann were seen 
approaching. The multitude which was gathered 
together at the fair-meeting flocked out to greet 
them, and gazed with wonder at the many mar- 
velous things they had brought. 

When they had come to the royal tent, the 
king joyfully welcomed them, and asked them if 
they had brought the eric-fine. 

“We have obtained it after much hardship and 
danger, O King,” said they, “and now we wish 
to know where Lugha is that we may deliver it 
to him.” 

The king told them that the Ildana was at the 


Rath-ree [Raw ra']. Flidas [Flee'yhas]: one of the gods. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


49 


assembly; but, though they searched everywhere 
for him, he could not be found. 

"I can surmise where he is,” said Brian, “It 
has been made known to him that we have 
come to Eire, bringing with us charmed, gifted 
weapons that none can withstand, and he has 
gone to one of the strongholds of Teamhair to 
avoid us, fearing that we might use them against 
himself.” 

Messengers were then sent to the Ildana to 
tell him that the sons of Tuireann had arrived, 
and to ask him to come to the meeting, in order 
that they might give him the fine. 

But the Ildana said to the messengers : “I will 
not go to the meeting yet awhile ; but go ye back 
and tell the sons of Tuireann to give the fine to 
the king for me.” 

When the messenger returned with this 
answer, the sons of Tuireann gave into the keep- 
ing of the king all the wonderful things they had 
collected in their journeys. After this the entire 
company went into the palace, and in a little 
while Lugha, the Ildana, having heard how mat- 
ters stood, came also and the king gave him the 
fine. 

Lugha looked narrowly at everything that had 


50 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


been given up to him and said: “Here, indeed, 
is an eric-fine sufficient to pay for any one that 
ever yet was slain; or, that shall be slain until 
the end of time! Yet, there is one kind of fine 
that must be paid to the last farthing, namely: 
an eric-fine — for it is not lawful to hold back 
even the smallest part. And, moreover, O King, 
thou and the Dedannans whom I see here present 
are guarantees for the full payment of my eric- 
fine.” Again Lugha looked narrowly at the 
wonderful things which had been brought to 
him from many lands, and said he: “I see here 
the three apples; and the skin of the pig; and 
the fiery headed spear; and the chariot and 
steeds; and the seven pigs and the hound whelp. 
But where, ye sons of Tuireann, is the cooking 
spit of the women of Fincara? And I have not 
heard that ye have given the three shouts on 
Midkenna’s hill.” 

On hearing this, the sons of Tuireann fell into 
a faintness, like unto the faintness before death, 
and when they had recovered they answered not 
one word; but left the assembly and went to 
their father’s house. 

To their father and to their sister Eithne they 
told all that had befallen them. And how now 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


51 


they must set out upon another quest because 
through the spells of Lugha they had forgotten 
two parts of the eric-fine. 

On hearing this Tuireann was overwhelmed 
with grief and wept in great fear and sorrow. 

The next morning, when the point of night 
met day, Brian, Ur and Urcar accompanied by 
their father and Eithne stood by the shore from 
which they were once more to sail. 

When their farewells were spoken, they em- 
barked, determined never to return, unless bring- 
ing with them the two forgotten parts of the fine. 

It was no longer their privilege to use Manan- 
nan’s canoe. In their own slower sailing, less 
commodious — yet trustworthy ship they set sail 
and sped forth over the green, billowy sea, in 
search of the island of Fincara. 

For four full moons they wandered hither and 
thither; sailing with the billows; and against 
them. On many shores they landed and inquired 
of all they met; yet, they were unable to get the 
least tidings of the island where the war-like 
women dwelt. 

At last they met a very old man, who told 
them that he had heard of the island of Fincara 
in the days of his youth. He said it lay not on 


52 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


the surface; but down deep in the waters, for it 
was sunk beneath the waves, by a druidical spell, 
in times long past. 

Then Brian put on his water dress, with his 
helmet of transparent crystal on his head. Tell- 
ing his brothers to await his return, he leaped 
over the side of the ship; and sank at once out 
of sight. 

He walked about for a fortnight down in the 
green, salt sea, before he found the island of 
Fincara. 

He noticed that among many houses on the 
island, one was larger and grander than the rest. 
Straightway, he bent his steps toward this; and 
finding it open entered. 

In a large apartment, hung with gorgeous 
tapestries, he saw a great number of beautiful 
ladies busily employed at all sorts of embroidery 
and needle work: and in their midst was a long, 
bright cooking spit, lying on a table. 

Without speaking a word, he walked straight 
to the table; and, seizing the spit in one hand, 
walked toward the door. The women neither 
spoke nor moved. But each one had her eyes 
fixed upon him from the moment he entered; ad- 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


53 


miring his manly form, his beauty and his fear- 
lessness. 

But when they saw him about to walk off with 
the spit, they all burst out laughing! One, who 
seemed the chief among them said: “Thou hast 
attempted a bold deed, O son of Tuireann. Dost 
thou not know that there are thrice fifty war-like 
women here ? Dost thou not know that the weak- 
est among us would be able of herself alone to 
prevent thee taking this cooking spit — even if 
thy brothers were here to help thee?” 

“Thou art a brave and noble champion; else, 
thou wouldst not have attempted to take the spit 
by force and without the help of anyone, for the 
danger is not unknown to thee. So, for thy bold- 
ness and valor, and for the comeliness of thy 
person, we will let thee take this one for we have 
many others beside.” 

It was with great joy that Brian listened to 
these words. Thanking the women of Fincara, 
he took the spit and hastened to find his ship. 

Ur and Urcar had remained in the same spot 
waiting for Brian. As day after day went by 
and he came not, they began to fear that he 
would never return. They were about to leave 
the place, having given up all hope, when down 


54 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


deep in the water they saw the glitter of Brian’s 
crystal helmet. A moment afterward, he arose 
to the surface with the cooking spit in his hand. 

His brothers helped him on board and they all 
rejoiced together over his success. 

Then they sailed away toward the north of 
Lochlann, and never abated speed until they had 
moored their vessel near the hill of Midkena. 

From its smooth, green height, Midkena saw 
them approaching. 

He knew them at a glance, and coming toward 
them, armed for battle, spoke to them in loud 
and threatening tones: “You it was who slew 
Kian, my friend and pupil, and now come hither 
and fight, for you shall not leave these shores 
until you answer for his death.” 

Brian, in no wise daunted by the fierce look 
and angry speech of Midkena, sprang ashore and 
the two heroes attacked each other with great 
fury. 

The three sons of Midkena heard the clash of 
arms, and rushed forth to aid their father. But 
just as they arrived at the shore Midkena fell 
dead, cloven through the helmet by the heavy 
sword of Brian. 

Now began a fight, three on each side. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


55 


And if men were afar off, even in the land of 
Hisberna, at the western end of the world, they 
would willingly come the whole way to see this 
battle. So fierce and haughty were the minds of 
those mighty champions; so skillful and active 
were they in the use of their weapons ; so numer- 
ous and heavy were their blows ; and so long did 
they continue to fight without either party giving 
way, that the most valiant of warriors must have 
looked on with admiration. 

The three sons of Tuireann were at last dread- 
fully wounded; wounded almost to death. But, 
neither fear nor weakness did this cause them. 
The more they were wounded, the more their 
valor and their fury arose, and with one mighty 
onset they drove their spears through the bodies 
of their foes. 

And the sons of Midkena fell before them into 
the long sleep of death. 

When the fight was ended, and the battle fury 
gave place to calm within the breasts of the 
victors, they began to feel the direful effects of 
their wounds. They threw themselves full length 
on the blood-stained sward ; and it was as if they 
were dead, for a heavy curtain of darkness fell 


56 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


over their eyes. And thus they remained with- 
out moving or speaking. 

Then Brian called to his brothers for he sought 
to know if they still lived. 

They answered him feebly, and he said : “My 
dear brothers, let us now arise and give the three 
shouts on the hill, while yet there is time; for I 
feel the signs of death.” 

Then Brian exerting himself to the utmost, and 
disregarding the blood which flowed copiously 
from his wounds, stood up and giving a hand to 
each of his brothers enabled them to rise. 

The three sons of Tuireann then gave, though 
feebly, the three shouts that Lugha required of 
them. 

Without further delay they sailed for Eire. 

While they were yet far off, Brian gazing over 
the sea toward the west, suddenly cried out : “Lo, 
I see yonder Ben Edar, rising above the waters. 
And I see also Dun Tuireann toward the north.” 

Then Urcar spoke from where he reclined with 
Ur upon the deck: “If we could but get one 
glance of Ben Edar, methinks we should regain 
our health and strength. As thou lovest us, and 
as thou lovest thine own renown, my brother, 
come and raise our heads and rest them on thy 

Ben Edar; Hill of Howth. Dun [Doon]: a fort. 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


57 


breast, so that we may see Eire once more. After 
that we shall welcome either life or death. 

“Let us, once more, behold our father’s home ; 

On winding Liffey, down by Athaclee. 

Old Frevin’s hill; or Teamhair’s regal dome; — 
Then welcome life or death, which’er may be.” 

So Brian raised their heads and rested them 
on his breast, and they gazed on the rocky cliffs 
and green slopes of Ben Edar, while the ship was 
wafted slowly toward the shore. 

Soon they landed near the northern side of 
Ben Edar, and from there made their way, little 
by little, to Dun Tuireann. When they had 
reached the green in front of the house, Brian 
cried out: “Father, dear father, come forth to 
thy children.” 

Tuireann came and saw his sons, all wounded 
and pale and feeble, and his heart was filled with 
sorrow. Brian after greting him said : “Go, be- 
loved father, go quickly to Teamhair; and as 
quickly return. Fetch this cooking spit to Lugha, 
and tell him that we have given the three shouts 
on Midkena’s hill. Say that we have now paid the 
entire eric-fine and bring from him the apples 

Athaclee [Aw 'haw clee] : Ford of the Hurdles; present city of Dublin. 
Frevin [Fra' win]: Hill in Westmeath on the west shore of Loch 
Owel. Here, in the ninth century resided Turgesius, the Danish 
tyrant who met death by drowning in the above mentioned Loch. 


58 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


from the garden of Hisberna to heal our wounds; 
else we die.” 

“Alas, my children,” said Tuireann, “I know 
the stern Ildana’s mind. Far rather would he 
see you in your tomb, than that he should possess 
all the treasures this great world can show.” 

“Oh, father,” then said Brian, “linger not here 
to mourn ; go straight to Lugha’s home. Tell him 
we pay full eric for his parent’s death. Is not the 
great Ildana just? Speed like the wind, nor tarry 
long, lest we die before thou return.” 

Tuireann set out and traveled like the wind, 
until he reached Teamhair. There he found 
Lugha. He gave him the cooking spit and said: 
“Behold, O Ildana, my three sons have now paid 
to thee full eric fine, for they have given 
the three shouts on Midkena’s hill. But they are 
wounded unto death; and now give me, I pray 
thee, the three apples from the garden of His- 
berna to cure them; else will they die.” 

“In vain dost thou seek to restore thy sons, O 
Tuireann; they committed a wicked and pitiful 
deed when they slew my father, and nothing 
could avert their punishment.” 

“For the blood they have spilled, 

For the hero they have killed, 

The penalty is paid and the doom is fulfilled.” 


QUEST OF THE ERIC FINE 


59 


“Return, O Tuireann, to thy home; take with 
thee the apples if thou wilt; yet powerless their 
magic, and powerless all human effort in behalf 
of those who, ere your request was made, lay 
cold as did their victim on Murthemna's plain/' 
Heavy was Tuireann's heart as he set out from 
Teamhair, knowing full well he never again 
should hear the voices of his sons. 

Eithne, her golden hair unbound about her 
shoulders, her dark eyes dim with weeping, met 
him at the gateway of Dun Tuireann. With her 
he hastened to where Brian lay with Ur and 
Urcar on either side of him; for, together they 
departed this life. Lamenting over their lifeless 
forms, father and sister stood hand in hand, 
while Tuireann spoke this lay: 

O pulseless is my heart this woful hour ; 

My strength is gone, my joy forever fled ; 

Three noble champions, Eire’s pride and power, 

My three fair youths, my children, cold and dead ! 

Lo, hear ye Tuireann, your unhappy sire, 

Mourning with feeble voice above your grave! 

Not wealth nor life nor honors I desire; 

A place beside my sons is all I crave. 

After this lamentation, Tuireann and Eithne 
fell on the bodies of the three young heroes and 
they were all buried in one grave, 


The Fate of the Ghildren of Lir 


CHAPTER I. 



AND AILBE lived in a beautiful 
palace called Sidhe Finneachaidh. 
They had four children whose names 
were Finula, Aodh, Fiachra and 
Conn. Their mother Ailbe was the 
daughter of Oilell Arann; and foster child of 
Bove Derg, the king. While the children were 
still very young their mother died. Their father 
Lir loved Ailbe and her death caused him great 
anguish ; indeed, he too would have died of grief, 
were it not that his mind was turned from his 
sorrow by his love for his four little motherless 
children. 

When the time of mourning for Ailbe was 
over, Bove Derg, the King said: “We mourn -with 
you, O Lir, for our foster child and, lest the bond 
of alliance and friendship existing between us on 
her account should be broken, I will give you for 
a wife Ailbe’s sister, Aoife.” 

Lir [Leer] Ailbe [Awl' vah]. Sidbe Finneachaidh [She Fin a' 
ha]_ Aodh [A]. Oilell Arann [Awl'yeel Ah 'ran]. Aoife 
[E ' fa]. 


60 


THE CHILDREN OF LIR 


61 


So Lir, glad with the thought that Aoife would 
give a mother's loving care to his little ones, went 
to the palace of Bove Derg and espoused her 
and brought her back with him to Sidhe Fin- 
neachaidh. 

At first Aoife was a very kind stepmother to 
Finula, Aodh, Fiachra and Conn and seemed to 
love them almost as much as did their father Lir. 
Every one loved them; even Bove Derg, the 
King, went many times a year to Sidhe Finneach- 
aidh to visit them, and he often brought them to 
his palace and was always sorry when the time 
came for their return home, it gave him such 
pleasure to have them with him. 

It was the custom of the Dedannans to cele- 
brate the feast of age at the houses of the differ- 
ent chiefs in turn ; and whenever the festival hap- 
pened to be held at Sidhe Finneachaidh the step- 
children of Aoife were the delight and joy of all 
the Dedannans, so gentle and beautiful were they. 
This should have pleased Aoife ; but instead, when 
she saw the children of Lir receive such attention 
from their father and from all the people who 
came to his house, she fancied that she was 
neglected on their account and bitter jealousy 
entered her heart and turned her love into hatred. 


62 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


For a whole year Aoife plotted against the chil- 
dren, and planned to rid herself of them. Then, 
one day, she ordered her horses yoked to her 
chariot, and she set out for the palace of Bove 
Derg, taking the children with her. Finula did 
not wish to go, for she had dreamed that Aoife 
was about to bring some harm upon herself and 
her brothers. But she was unable to avoid the 
fate that awaited her. 

As they were passing through a dark and 
lonely wood on their way to the palace, Aoife said 
to her attendants: “It is my desire that these 
children be destroyed, and it is for this I have 
brought them with me. I cannot endure to have 
them live any longer, for their father has neg- 
lected and forsaken me on account of his great 
love for them.” But the attendants listened with 
horror to Aoife and said: “The children of Lir 
shall never be harmed by us; fearful is the deed 
thou hast contemplated, Aoife, and evil will surely 
befall thee for having even thought of destroying 
these beautiful children entrusted to thy care.” 

And so they continued on their way ; the wicked 
Aoife still plotting mischief in her heart. At last 
they came to the shores of Lake Darvra ; and then 
Aoife commanded the attendants to unyoke the 


THE CHILDREN OF LIR 


63 


horses and let them rest. She alighted with the 
children from the chariot and led them to the edge 
of the lake and bade them go and bathe. One by 
one as they entered the pure, limpid water, she 
struck them with a druidical, fairy wand and 
turned them into four beautiful snow-white 
swans. Waving the mystical wand she said : 

“The words of doom are spoken; 

Your home is now the wave; 

The charm cannot be broken. 

From fate no power can save.” 

When she had ceased speaking the four chil- 
dren of Lir turned their faces toward her and 
Finula said: “Thou hast ruined us without a 
cause; false has thy friendship been, and evil is 
the deed which thou hast done; but we will be 
avenged and the doom that awaits thee is worse 
than ours.” 

“At last thy wicked work is done ! 

Aoife, false and cruel one, 

With fairy wand and fearful words 
To change us into snow-white birds ! 

Upon the waters evermore 

To sail and sail from shore to shore !” 


64 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


Aoife answered them: “Three hundred years on 
Darvra’s lake ; three hundred more on the sea of 
Moyle ; and on the sea of Glora in the west three 
hundred years ; until the union of the prince of the 
north with the princess of the south; until the 
Taillkenn come and the voice of the Christian 
bell is heard in Eire; and there is no power can 
free you until thrice three hundred years be 
past!” 

But no sooner had she finished speaking than 
she was sorry for what she had done. The fairy 
wand dropped from her hands as she stretched 
them out toward the snow-white swans and said : 
“O children of Lir, since I may not now afford 
you any other relief, I shall allow you to keep 
your own sweet, Gaelic speech; and you shall be 
able to sing plaintive, fairy music ; melodies more 
beautiful than any the world has ever listened to, 
and all who hear them shall be lulled to sleep. 
Moreover you shall retain your human reason, 
and your lives shall be preserved until the time 
comes for you to resume again your human 
form.” And then she chanted: 

“Until thrice three hundred years are gone, 

You shall keep the form of snow white swan ; 

Your palace shall be the pearly cave 

Moyle; Gaelic: Sruth na Maoile [Sruh na Mweel'ah]: Sea between 

Eire and Alban. Sea of Glora is off west coast of Mayo. 

Taillkenn [Tal'ken]: A prophesied Deliverer — Saint Patrick. 


THE CHILDREN OF LIR 


65 


Your couch the crest of the crystal wave. 

And though Lir shall call his loved ones long 
His only answer shall be the song 
Of white swans under the night star pale 
Singing together a mournful tale.” 

Then she ordered her steeds yoked to her char- 
iot and departed westward, leaving the four white 
swans swimming upon the lake. 


66 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


CHAPTER II. 

When Aoife arrived at the palace, the chiefs 
bade her welcome; and Bove Derg, the King, 
asked her why she had not brought the children 
of Lir with her. “Because,” she replied, “Lir no 
longer loves thee, and he does not wish to intrust 
his children to thee, lest thou shouldst harm 
them.” 

The king was greatly astonished and troubled 
to hear this, and he said: “This cannot be; Lir 
knows that I love those children as dearly as I 
love my own.” 

He could not help thinking that Aoife had been 
guilty of some treachery; so he sent messengers 
in haste to Sidhe Finneachaidh to ask about the 
children and request that they might be sent to 
him. 

When Lir heard the message from Bove Derg 
his heart was very sad, for he felt sure that Aoife 
had destroyed his four lovely children. Early 
next morning his chariot was yoked for him and 
he set out with his attendants for the king’s pal- 
ace ; and they traveled with great speed until they 
arrived at the shore of lake Darvra. The children 


THE CHILDREN OF LIR 


67 


of Lir saw the cavalcade approaching, and Finula 
chanted these words: 

‘T see the shields and gilded mail 

Of warriors coming down the vale. 

I see their chariots advance. 

While swords and helmets brightly glance. 

Too well I know what brings them here: 

This Dannan host and royal Lir.” 

When Lir reached the shore he heard the birds 
speaking and wondering greatly he asked them 
how it came to pass that they had human voices. 

“O father Lir,” said Finula, “we are thy four 
children, and the jealousy of Aoife has caused 
her to turn us into birds.” When Lir and his 
people heard this they uttered three long cries of 
grief and lamentation, and after some time passed 
in silence Lir said: “Alas, dear children, great 
is my sorrow to find you thus; yet I hope it is pos- 
sible to restore to you your human forms, and 
this I shall seek to do without delay.” 

But the swans answered him: “There is no 
power, O Lir, can break the spell of the druidical 
charm by which Aoife has changed thy children 
into snow-white swans. For three times three 
centuries we must sail the waves of Dar- 


68 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


vra, Moyle and Glora. We may not take our 
human shapes again until the union of the prince 
of the north with the princess of the south; and 
until the Tailkenn has come and the sound of the 
Christian bell is heard in Eire.” Hearing this the 
people again raised three great cries of sorrow. 

Then Finula spoke again: “But the wicked 
Aoife has allowed us to retain our Gaelic speech ; 
and we have also the power to chant plaintive, 
fairy music; so sweet that those who listen to us 
could not wish for any greater happiness. Re- 
main on Darvra shore tonight and we will chant 
for you.” 

So Lir and his people remained on the shore of 
the lake, and the swans sang their fairy music for 
them ; and it was so sweet and sad that the people 
as they listened fell into a calm, gentle sleep. 

At the first glimmer of dawn, Lir arose and 
bade his children farewell: 

“The time has come for us to part 
No more, alas, my children dear, 

Your rosy smiles shall glad the heart 
Or light the gloomy home of Lir.” 

Then Lir went to seek Aoife and when he had 
come to the king’s palace, Bove Derg reproached 


THE CHILDREN OF LIR 


69 


him in the presence of Aoife for not bringing the 
children. 

“Alas!” said Lir, “It was not I but your own 
foster child, Aoife, who prevented them from 
coming. She has placed them under cruel spells ; 
and changed them by her sorcery into four white 
swans on the lake of Darvra.” 

The king listened with astonishment to this sad 
news, and when he looked at Aoife he knew by 
her countenance that Lir had told him the truth. 
In fierce and angry tones he spoke to her and said : 
“Thy cruel deed shall be worse for thee than for 
the children, for there shall be an end to their suf- 
ferings but not to yours.” And still more fiercely 
he spoke and asked her what form of all upon the 
earth, or above the earth, or beneath the earth she 
most abhorred; and she answered: “A demon of 
the air.” 

“That is the form you now shall take,” said 
Bove Derg and as he spoke he struck her with a 
druidical, magic wand and turned her into a de- 
mon of the air. She opened her wings and flew 
with a scream upward and away through the 
clouds. And she is still a demon of the air, and 
shall be until the end of time. 

After this Bove Derg and the Dedannans went 

Demon of the air: Gaelic: Deamhan Aedhir [Dune Ar]. Milesian: 
Same as Phoenician; the people of Mile, the last of the ancient colon- 
ists of Eire; they came from Spain ; but, first from the East Mil& ; 
Latin Miletus, a soldier. 


70 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


to the shore of lake Darvra where they encamped, 
and the Milesian people came also and encamped 
in like manner. For three hundred years the 
people in their encampments, and the swans on the 
lake conversed together sweetly during the day, 
and at night the swans chanted their fairy music; 
the most delightful that was ever heard by men. 
And all who listened to this music forgot their 
grief and pain and fell into a gentle sleep, from 
which they awoke bright and happy. 

At the end of the three hundred years, Finula 
said to her brothers : “Do you not know, my dear 
brothers, we have come to the end of our time 
here, and have but this one more night to spend 
on lake Darvra ?” 

When the three sons of Lir heard this they 
were very sorrowful, for now they must bid their 
father and their friends farewell and go to live on 
the dismal, tempestuous sea of Moyle far away 
from all human society. Early the next morning 
they came to the margin of the lake to say fare- 
well and Finula chanted this lay: 

“Our father dear and friends farewell, 

The last sad hour is near; 

On stormy Moyle we go to dwell 
In loneliness and fear.” 


THE CHILDREN OF LIR 


71 


The four swans then spread their wings and 
rose from the surface of the water in sight of all 
their friends until they had reached a great height 
in the air. Then resting and looking downward 
for a moment they flew to the north, and alighted 
on the sea of Moyle between Eire and Alban. 
With sad hearts the people watched their snowy 
wings disappear in the far, blue heaven; and im- 
mediately thereafter they made a law, and pro- 
claimed it throughout the land, that from that 
time forth no one should kill a swan in Eire. 

Miserable indeed was the plight of the children 
of Lir on the sea of Moyle. The sight of the dark, 
wild waves and steep, rocky coast filled them with 
fear and despair ; and not only were they sad and 
lonely, but they were also cold and hungry. 

And so they lived until one night a great 
tempest fell upon the sea. Finula when she saw 
the sky darkening over with great rolling clouds, 
said to her brothers : “Beloved brothers, we have 
made no preparations for this night, and it is cer- 
tain that the coming storm will separate us; let 
us now appoint a place of meeting or it may hap- 
pen that we may never see each other again.” 

“Dear sister,” they answered, “you speak truly 
and wisely. Let us arrange to meet at Carrick- 

Alban : Scotland, Car 7 rick na rone ' ; Rock of the fur seals. 


72 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


narone as that is a rock we all know very well.” 
So they appointed Carricknarone for a meeting 
place. 

At midnight a wild, rough wind swept over the 
dark sea; the lightnings flashed, and the roar of 
the great billows was almost as loud as the 
thunders of the sky. The unhappy swans were 
scattered over the waters so that not one of them 
knew in what direction the others had been 
driven. Toward morning the storm abated and 
Finula swam to Carricknarone, but she did not 
find her brothers there ; neither could she see any 
trace of them when, from the summit of the rock, 
she looked all around over the wide face of the 
sea. She feared she might never again see her 
brothers, and began to lament them singing : 

“The anguish and woe of this life 

No longer Fm able to bear. 

My wings are benumbed with the pitiless frost; 

My three little brothers are scattered and lost 
And I am left here to despair. 

Return, O my brothers, return ! 

Sail over the dark waves to me. 

Once more let me shelter you close to my breast. 
And soothe all your sorrows and lull you to rest; 

Return, O my brothers, to me.” 


THE CHILDREN OF LIR 


73 


But hardly had she ceased singing, when she 
saw Conn coming toward the rock with his head 
drooping, and his feathers all drenched with the 
salt spray. With joyful heart she welcomed him, 
and together they anxiously scanned the waters in 
hope of seeing their brothers. Soon Fiachra 
came so faint, after his long struggle against the 
stormy waves, that he was hardly able to answer 
the affectionate greetings of his brother and sis- 
ter. Finula spread her wings over him and Conn 
and said: “If Aodh were here now how happy 
we would all be !” And how happy they were a 
short time afterward to see him coming with head 
erect and feathers dry and radiant. 

Many another tempest the children of Lir lived 
through upon the briny waters of the sea of 
Moyle. Sometimes they visited the shores of Eire 
and the headlands of Alban; but they could re- 
main away for only a- short period of time, as the 
fetters of the fairy charm bound them to return 
again to the sea stream of Moyle. One day they 
came to the mouth of the Bann, on the north coast 
of Eire, and looking inland they saw a troop of 
horsemen coming from the southwest. They were 
mounted on white steeds and clad in bright col- 


74 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


ored garments; and as they moved toward the 
shore their arms glittered in the sunlight. 

The swans swam toward the shore in order to 
find out who the strangers were. It happened 
also that the cavalcade espied the swans and di- 
rected their course toward them, until they were 
within speaking distance. These mounted men 
were a third part of the Fairy Host and were 
commanded by the two sons of Bove Derg : Aed, 
the keen witted; and Fergus, the chess player. 
They had been searching for the children of Lir 
along the northern shores of Eire, and they were 
very joyful when they found them. Tender words 
of greeting were exchanged by them and the 
snow white swans, and the chiefs gave to the un- 
happy children of Lir tidings of their father and 
their friends. But soon they bade each other 
farewell, for the swans could not remain longer 
away from Moyle. As the fairy cavalcade moved 
away their heard the sweet, sad voice of Finula 
chanting : 

“Ah, happy is Lir’s bright home today, 

With mead and music and poet’s lay; 

But gloomy and cold his children roam 
Forever tossed on the briny foam. 

On Moyle’s dark current our food and wine 


THE CHILDREN OF LIR 


75 


Are sandy sea weed and bitter brine. 

Lonely we swim on the billowy main 

Through frost and snow; through storm and rain; 

But rich was our raiment, long, long ago; 

Mantles of purple and furs of snow ; 

And gaily we feasted in days of old 

And drank sweet nectar from cups of gold.” 

As soon as the Fairy Host had returned to 
Sidhe Finneachaidh they related all that had hap- 
pened, and described the condition of the children 
of Lir. Then the Dedannan chiefs said: “We 
would gladly help them were it in our power, but 
it is not. Still we may find comfort in the thought 
that the enchantment will at length be broken, 
and the white swans once more resume their 
human forms.” 

When the three hundred years on the sea of 
Moyle were ended, the swans flew westward to 
the sea of Glora. And it happened that a young 
man named Ebric, who lived near the sea, ob- 
served the birds and heard their singing. He 
took great delight in listening to them, and al- 
most every day he walked down to the sea to 
look at them and converse with them. And they 
grew to love each other very much; and it was 


76 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


he who in the old days wrote down the story of 
the snow-white swans. 

The children of Lir sailed, as they were 
destined to do, for three hundred years on the sea 
of Glora; and, when at last the time was past, Fin- 
ula said : “Come brothers, our time upon the seas 
is over ; let us now go to visit our father and our 
people.” How glad the brothers were to hear 
this ! They all spread their snowy wings and ris- 
ing lightly from the face of the water flew east- 
ward to Sidhe Finneachaidh. But when they 
alighted, they found the place deserted and sol- 
itary. Its halls were ruined and overgrown with 
rank grass and forests of nettles. All was dark, 
and lonely, and nowhere was there anything to 
show that human beings dwelt there. 

The four swans drew close together and ut- 
tered three loud, mournful cries of sorrow; and 
Finula sang: 

“The house of my father is joyless and lone; 

Its halls and its gardens with weeds overgrown. 

No warrior noble nor beautiful maid, 

In bright silken garments and jewels arrayed. 

No shield nor keen sword on the dark lofty walls ; 

No music to brighten its desolate halls.” 

All that night the swans sang together mel- 


THE CHILDREN OF LIR 


77 


odies so sad and beautiful that the very trees 
around the deserted palace wept as the strains vi- 
brated through their branches. 


78 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


CHAPTER III. 

Early next morning the children of Lir left 
Sidhe Finneachaidh and flew westward to a small 
lake near Innis Glora. They alighted on its 
waters and began to sing so sweetly that all the 
birds of the forest near by gathered on the shores 
to listen; and the little lake came to be known as 
the lake of the bird-flocks. 

During the day the birds used to fly to distant 
points on the coast in order to find food: now to 
Achill; now to Inniskea of the lonely crane and 
sometimes southward to Donn’s sea rocks. But 
every night they returned to Innis Glora. In this 
manner they lived until the Taillkenn brought 
the Christian faith to Eire, and Saint Kemoc 
came to Innis Glora. 

When first the swans heard Saint Kemoc ring- 
ing his bell at early matin time, they trembled at 
the strange sound, and did not know whether to 
be joyful or afraid, until Finula said: “My 
brothers, this faint, sweet sound we hear is the 
voice of the Christian bell ; and now the end of our 
suffering is near for with the ringing of this bell 
comes freedom from Aoife’s spell. ,, 


THE CHILDREN OF LIR 


79 


“Listen, O swans, to the sound of the bell, 

The sweet bell we’ve dreamed of for many a year, 

Its tones floating by on the night breezes tell 
That the end of our long day of sorrow is near. 

Oh trust in the glorious Lord of the sky; 

He will free us from Aoife’s magical spell. 

Be thankful and glad that our freedom is nigh, 

And listen with joy to the sound of the bell.” 

When Kemoc, the cleric, had finished his 
matins the swans chanted a low, sweet strain of 
fairy music in praise of the great high King of 
heaven and earth. Kemoc heard it and listened 
with great wonder, and while he listened it was 
revealed to him that it was the children of Lir 
whom he had heard singing. So, as soon as it 
was- dawn, he went to the shore of the lake and 
there he saw the four white swans swimming on 
the water. “Are you not the children of Lir?” 
he said to them. 

“We are indeed Lir’s children,” said they. 
“Long ago we were changed into swans by our 
jealous stepmother. ,, 

“I give God thanks that I have found you,” 
said Kemoc. “It is on your account that I have 
come to this little island in preference to all other 
islands in Eire. Come now to land and trust in 


80 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


me, for it is in this place that you are destined to 
be freed from your enchantment.” 

It filled their hearts with joy to hear Kemoc 
speaking thus, and they swam to shore and placed 
themselves in his care. He brought them to his 
own home and, sending for a skilful workman, he 
directed him to make two bright slender chains 
of silver and he put one between Finula and 
Aodh; and one between Fiachra and Conn. And 
so they lived with him, listening to his instruc- 
tions, and joining in his devotions. And the holy 
cleric loved them with all his heart and the mem- 
ory of all the misery they had suffered caused 
them neither distress nor sorrow. 

At this time Largnen, the son of Colman, was 
king of Connacht; and, his queen was Decca, 
daughter of the king of Munster, the same king 
and queen of whom Aoife had spoken so long be- 
fore in her prophecy. Queen Decca heard of the 
wonderful, speaking swans, and their sad story 
filled her heart with love and sympathy; and she 
desired very much to have them with her at the 
royal palace. She besought the king to get them 
for her, but Largnen said he did not wish to ask 
them from Kemoc. Decca, however, was de- 
termined to have the swans ; so she left the palace 


THE CHILDREN OF LIR 


81 


that very hour and fled southward toward her 
father's home. 

Largnen, when he found that she was gone, 
sent messengers after her to say that if she would 
return he would ask Kemoc for the swans. The 
messengers overtook her at Killaloe, and she re- 
turned with them to the palace, happy with the 
thought of having the snow white swans for her 
own. 

But Kemoc refused Largnen's request for the 
birds ; and this made him very angry. He set out 
at once for the cleric's house, and being very 
wroth he seized the swans and hurried away with 
them, intending to bring them by force to the 
queen. He had gone but a little way when the 
swans' beautiful, white feathers seemed to melt in 
the air and then entirely vanished ; and, although 
nobody could tell after beholding it how it came 
to pass, the swans regained their human shapes. 
But not as children did they appear; on the 
contrary, they were feeble, white haired and 
wrinkled. 

The king, on beholding them thus, started with 
affright and instantly left the place without 
speaking a word. Kemoc, looking after him, re- 
proached him bitterly; but Finula said: “Do not 


Largnen [Lam 'yen]. 


82 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


grieve for us, O Kemoc, but baptize us without 
delay; for the time is near for our departure from 
this life. Make our grave on this spot and bury 
us together. Place us as we have often nestled 
together when we were swans: Conn standing 
near me at my right side; Fiachra at my left and 
Aodh looking into my face. So then the holy 
cleric, Saint Kemoc, baptized them, and they 
closed their eyes in the long sleep from which 
they would never awaken in this world. And 
Kemoc, looking up, saw a vision of four lovely 
children, with luminous, silvery, wings and faces 
radiant with joy. The children smiled at him and 
then slowly disappeared from his eager gaze. 

Kemoc was very happy for he knew the swans 
had gone to dwell in a kingdom where no treach- 
ery could touch them, and where all would be 
love and happiness. 

He buried the bodies of the children of Lir ac- 
cording to their wish; and raised a grave mound 
over them, and above it a stone on which their 
names were engraved in Ogham. 

And this is the sorrowful story of the children 
of Lir as told by Ebric of the lake of Glora. 

Ogham [O' am]: The most ancient manner of writing or making 
records known to the Irish. There are many stones inscribed in 
Ogham still extant. 


The Ard Righ of Eire 


CHAPTER I. 

NE day, as Eochaid Feidlech, Ard 
Righ of Eire, was going over the fair 
green of Bri Leith he saw near a 
well a woman wearing a beautiful, 
purple cloak with silver fringes and a golden 
brooch. Her dress was of green silk with a long 
hood embroidered in red gold, and on her breast 
and shoulders were cunningly wrought clasps of 
gold and silver. Her hair was in two plaits, and 
in each plait were four strands, and at the end of 
each strand was a bead. Also she wore a comb 
of gold and silver. The color of her hair was like 
that of the yellow ailestars in summer, or like red 
gold after it is rubbed. 

She had brought with her a silver basin, in 
which to wash her hair. The basin had four 
golden birds on it and little, bright-purple stones 
set in its rim. After preparing to wash her hair 
she let it down with her soft hands, white as the 

Ard Righ of Eire [Ard Ree of Ar'ya]: The High King of Ireland. 
The Ard Righ of Eire : The original manuscript is one of the old- 
est specimens of written Gaelic now extant. Eochaid Feidlech 
[Och'ee Fa/lach]. Bri Leith [Bree Leh]: Property of Leith. 
Ailestar [A lest ar], the iris or fleur de lis. 

83 



84 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


snow of a single night. Her eyes were blue as 
any blue flower, and her lips as red as the berries 
of the quicken tree. The brightness of the moon 
was in her face; the arch of pride in her eye- 
brows ; a dimple of delight in each of her cheeks ; 
the light of love in her eyes and her walk was 
that of a queen. Of all the women in the world 
she was the loveliest and best, and King Eochaid 
and his people thought that she came from the 
hills of the Sidhe, and they said of her : “All are 
dear and all are beautiful until they are put be- 
side Etain. ,, 

So Eochaid sent messengers to bring her to 
him, and when she had come he said “Who are 
you and where do you come from?” 

“That is easy to tell, ,, she said. “I am Etain, 
daughter of Etar, king of the Riders of the Sidhe. 
“Ever since I was born, twenty years ago, I have 
lived in this place. Kings and great men from 
among the Sidhe have asked for my love, but I 
have not wasted a thought on them, for even 
when I was a child I loved you, because of the 
tales I heard of your goodness and valor. When 
I saw you just now, I knew you by all I had heard 
of you and was glad to have found you at last.” 

“It is a good friend you have been looking for,” 

Etain [Et'yan]. Etar [A 'tar]. 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


85 


said Eochaid, “and he bids you welcome.” From 
now on no other woman shall hold my love.” And 
so they were wedded and lived together until 
King Eochaid died. 

They had one daughter and she was named 
Etain after her mother. She married Cormac, 
king of Ulster, and like her mother she had one 
daughter. But Cormac was vexed because he 
wished for a son instead of a daughter; and he 
bade two of his serving men take the child out of 
his sight, and put her in a pit to die. So they 
brought her to the pit, but when they were putting 
her in she smiled at them so sweetly that they had 
not the heart to harm her. They then brought 
her to a calf-shed belonging to the herders of the 
cattle of Etercel, great grandson of Iar, king of 
Teamhair. The herders cared for her with love 
and kindness and no king’s daughter was more 
beautiful or virtuous than she, the maiden Etain, 
to whom Cormac had denied a father’s love and 
protection. And the herders made for her a little 
house of wicker work. The little house had no 
door; only a large, high window. 

King Etercel’s people thought that the herders 
stored provisions in the wicker house. But one 
day a man from among them got up and looked 


Etercel [Et' er kel]. 


86 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


in through the window and instead of a store 
of provisions, he saw the best behaved and most 
beautiful young girl of the whole world. 

When King Etercel heard this he sent the 
noblest of all his warriors to break into the wicker 
house and bring Etain away, without asking per- 
mission of the cowherds. For King Etercel 
thought she must be the woman who it had been 
foretold would be his wife. 

But early in the morning, before the king's 
messengers reached the house, a bird flew in 
through the window, and it left its bird-skin on 
the floor and stood before Etain changed to a 
man, and he said to her : 

"The king is sending messengers to bring you 
to him for he wishes to make you his wife. And 
you will have a son whose name will be Conaire, 
son of Mess Buachall, that is, ‘son of the cow- 
herd's foster-child.' And there will be geasa on 
him, that is bonds, never to kill a bird for I will 
be his father." With that he disappeared in his 
bird-skin and flew out of the window, and the 
king's messengers came and breaking down the 
wicker house brought Etain away to the king. 

When her son Conaire was born, Etain asked 
that he might be brought up between three house- 


Conaire [Con ' er ry], Buachall [Bo ' kell]. 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


87 


holds; the household of the herders, the house- 
hold of the Maines and her own household. 

So Conaire was reared as his mother wished 
and there were five other boys reared along with 
him: Ferger, Fergel, Ferogian, Ferobain and 
Lomna Druth, the jester of the house of Dond 
Dessa, who was champion of the army from Mu 
Muclesi. And they all were given the same food, 
and their clothing and armor and the color of 
their horses were the same. 

Maines [Mawn'yahs], Lomna Druth [Lum'na Droo]. Life: 
River at the mouth of which Dublin is located. Ath Cliath [Aw 
Clee'ah]: Same as Athaclee, page 57. 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


CHAPTER II. 

And, while Conaire was yet quite young, king 
Etercel died; and after his death a bull feast was 
made ready at Teamhair, for the custom was to 
find out by means of a bull feast who was the best 
man to succeed to the kingship. 

This is the way in which a bull feast was made. 
A white bull was killed and his flesh was boiled 
in a great caldron, and one man would eat of the 
meat and drink of the broth until he was fully sat- 
isfied. Then he would sleep; and a charm of 
truth would be said over him by four Druids, and 
whoever he would see in his sleep would be king. 
And when he awoke he would describe to the peo- 
ple the appearance of the man he had seen in his 
sleep, and if he told anything but the truth his 
lips would perish. This time the dreamer saw in 
his sleep a young man who did not have sufficient 
clothing to keep him from being scorched by the 
sun and chilled by the wind. The young man had 
a stone in his sling and was hurrying along the 
road to Teamhair as if looking for something to 
wear. 

Conaire at this time was playing games near 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


89 


the Life river with his foster brothers, and the 
cowherds who had reared him came and bade 
him go to Teamhair to the bull feast. 

So Conaire left the others to play their games 
without him and started in his chariot for the bull 
feast. And as he fared on his way he came to Ath 
Cliath, where he saw some white speckled birds; 
the largest and finest he had ever seen. He fol- 
lowed them until his horses were tired but could 
not come up with them, for they always kept just 
beyond his reach. So he got down from his char- 
iot and taking his sling followed them to the 
shore of the sea. When the birds reached the sea 
they swam away on the waves and Conaire went 
after them and tried to seize them. Then they 
left their bird-skins on the water, and rose up in 
the likeness of men before Conaire, and turned 
to face him with spears and swords. 

But one of the birds stepped to Conaire's side 
in token of protection, and said to him: “I am 
Nemglan, king of your father's birds. You are 
under geasa never to cast a stone at birds and 
there is great reason why all birds should be dear 
to you." 

“I have never heard of the geasa before," 
said Conaire dropping the stone from his 

Nemglan [Nev'glan]. 


90 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


sling. Then Nemglan said: “We have a mes- 
sage for you and it is this: Go to Team- 
hair tonight to the bull feast. By doing so 
you will be made king; for the kingship is to be 
given to a man who will go along one of the roads 
to Teamhair, toward the end of the night, and 
whose clothing is not sufficient to keep his body 
from being scorched by day and chilled by night.” 

“I will go,” said Conaire, “for I have a right 
to be king when my father and grandfather have 
been king before me.” 

“You will be king, indeed,” said Nemglan, 
“and your bird-reign will be renowned, but there 
are geasa, that is bonds, on you not to do these 
things which I shall name: 

“Do not go right-hand-wise around Teamhair 
nor left-hand-wise around Bregia. Do not hunt 
the evil beasts of Cerna. Do not go out beyond 
Teamhair every ninth night. Do not settle the 
quarrel of two of your own people. Let no rob- 
bery be done in your reign. Do not sleep in a 
house from which you can see the firelight shin- 
ing after sunset. Do not let one man nor one 
woman come into the house where you are after 
sjunset. Do not let three Reds go before you to 
the house of Red.” 


Bregia [Bra w] : Plain on which Teamhair stands. Cerna [Kar'na]. 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


91 


As soon as Nemglan had finished speaking, he 
and his companions resumed their bird-shapes 
and flew rapidly away. 

Then Conaire, remembering what had been 
told him, left his raiment lying on the strand and 
picking up another stone for his sling set out for 
Teamhair. And on each of the four roads to 
Teamhair three kings were waiting; and they had 
with them clothing for the king whose coming 
had been foretold at the bull feast. And the three 
kings on the road Conaire was traveling when 
they saw him coming went forth to meet him, and 
they put royal clothes on him and brought him in 
a chariot to Teamhair. 

But the people of Teamhair when they saw him 
said: “Our bull feast and our charm of truth 
were of little worth when they have brought us 
only a young, beardless lad.” 

But Conaire said: “My youth does not unfit 
me to be your king, for my father and my grand- 
father have both held the same place. “That is 
true,” said they; and then they gave him the king- 
ship. And Conaire said to them: “I will be a 
just king to you and I will learn of wise men, that 
I also may be wise.” 

And during Cpnaire’s reign there was peace 


92 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


and plenty throughout Eire. Seven ships at a 
time came into Inver Colpa, and there were corn 
and nuts up to the knees in every harvest, and 
trees bending from the weight of fruit and the 
Buais and the Boinne were full of fish every sum- 
mer. And among the people there was such good 
will that they thought each others voices as sweet 
as the strings of harps. Even the wolves them- 
selves were held by hostages not to kill more than 
one calf in every pen. 

During all Conaire’s reign there was no 
thunder nor storm, and from Baal Tinne until 
Samhain there was not as much wind as would 
stir the rushes in the water. And the cattle were 
without herders because of the greatness of peace. 
And his reign crowned Eire with three crowns : 
the crown of flowers ; the crown of acorns and the 
crown of wheat ears. 

Inver [Estuary]. Inver Colpa: Estuary of the Boyne river at 
Drogheda [Draw' dah]. Tinnee [Tin'neh]. Baal Tinne : Baal 
Fire; Month of May. Samhain [So\y'nah] : Month of November. 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


93 


CHAPTER III. 

But after awhile the sons of Dond Dessa grew 
discontented, because they were hindered from the 
robbery and killing which used to be in the old 
time. And to vex the king, and to see what he 
would do, they stole three things : a pig, a bullock 
and a cow from the same countryman every year 
for three years. And every year the countryman 
went to the king to make complaint and every 
year the king said: “It is to the sons of Dessa 
you should go, for they took the beasts.” But 
when the countryman went to the sons of Dond 
Dessa he received no satisfaction, but insults and 
threats were added to his injuries. And he was 
afraid to go back and tell the king for fear of vex- 
ing him. 

So the sons of Dond Dessa continued their 
depredations and three times fifty other young 
men, sons of the great men of Eire joined them. 

And one time when they were doing their 
wicked work in Connacht they followed a swine- 
herd, who ran from them and called for help, and 
the people came in haste when they heard the 
cry; and they caught the robbers and brought 


94 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


them back to Teamhair. King Conaire was 
then called upon to give judgment and this is 
what he said : “Let every father of a robber put 
his own son to death, but let my foster-brothers 
be spared.” 

“Give us leave,” said the people, “and we will 
put them to death for you.” 

“I will not consent to that,” said Conaire, 
“Their lives shall be spared ; yet if they must con- 
tinue in their robbery let them go across the sea 
to Alban.” 

Thereupon the sons of Dond Dessa were driven 
out of the country, and some of the Maines went 
with them, and the sons of Ailell and Maeve and 
three great fighting men of Leinster, who were 
called the Three Red Hounds of Cualu ; and they 
also brought with them a troop of wild, restless 
men. 

And when they were out in their ships on the 
rough sea, they met the ship of Ingcel, the One- 
Eyed grandson of Cormac of Britain. They 
were going to make an attack on him but Ingcel 
said “Instead of fighting let us come to an agree- 
ment for you have been driven out of Eire and I 
have been driven out of Britain. Let us unite,” 
said Ingcel, “come you with us and we will spoil 

Ailell [Awl'yeel]. Maeve [Mave]: Same as Queen Mab of Shake- 
speare. Ingcel [Ing'kel], 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


95 


the people of my country/’ So to this they 
agreed; but they cast lots as to where they should 
go first and it happened that, according to lots, 
they should first go to Britain with Ingcel. So 
they wrought great ravages in Britain, and then 
set out for Alban, repeating their destruction and 
robbery. At last they turned back again to Eire. 

Now at this time the peace of Eire had been 
broken by the two Cairbres, who were at war with 
one another in Tuamumain of Munster, and no 
one was able to put an end to their quarrel until 
Conaire himself went to Tuamumain for that 
purpose. But in doing this he broke two of the 
geasa put on him by the Man of the Waves. On 
his way back to Teamhair, when he was passing 
Usnach in Meath, he and his people thought they 
saw fighting from east to west, and from north 
to south, and armies of savages and the country 
of the Ua Neills like a cloud of fire around them. 

“What means this?” said Conaire. “It is 
easy to answer that,” said the people. “The king’s 
law has been transgressed and the country is on 
fire.” - 

“What way is the best way for us to go ?” said 
Conaire- 

“To the northwest” said his people. 

Tuamumain [Too 'ah moon]. North Munster, modernized: Tho- 
mond. 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


So they went right-hand-wise around Team- 
hair and left-hand-wise around Bregia; and by 
doing this Conaire again broke his bonds. Also 
they hunted wild beasts, which they encountered 
on their way, and Conaire did not know until 
afterwards that they were the evil beasts of 
Cerna. 

It was the Sidhe who had put that Druid mist 
of smoke about Conaire, because he had begun 
to break his bonds. Great fear came over him 
and, hardly knowing what to do, he and his peo- 
ple traveled south by the sea coast on the road 
of Cualu. As evening came on Conaire said: 
“Where shall we go to spend the night ?” 

Then MacCecht, one of Conaire’s fighting 
men, who kept three of the Fomor as hostages 
at the king’s court so that their people would not 
spoil corn or honey in Eire during his reign, 
answered the king: “This much I can truly say, 
O king: It is oftener the men of Eire have quar- 
reled to entertain you, than you have strayed 
about looking for a lodging.” 

“I have a friend not far from this,” said Con- 
aire, “if we but knew the way to his house, we 
could go there.” 

“What is his name?” asked MacCecht. 

The houses of the ancient Gaels were made of wood. Mac Cecht 
[Mac Kay'acht]. 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


97 


“Da Derga of Leinster ; it is he who keeps the 
great inn,” said Conaire. “He came once to ask 
a gift of me, and I did not refuse, but gave him 
horses, cattle and swine; cloaks of fine cloth, 
swords, spears and red-gilded brooches; good 
brown ale and white hounds in silver chains. 
And I would do the same by him again should 
he come to me. Surely he would not be- 
grudge me anything should I go to his house to- 
night.” 

“As I remember,” said MacCecht, “the house 
of Da Derga has seven doorways and seven 
sleeping rooms between every two doorways ; 
and, we are now going directly toward it.” 

“Let us continue on this road until we come 
to the house you speak of,” said Conaire. 

“If you wish to do that,” said MacCecht, “I 
will go on before you and light a fire in the 
house.” 

So Conaire and all his people went on toward 
Ath Cliath and presently a man with hair cut 
short and with but one hand, one foot, and one 
eye and an altogether dreadful appearance over- 
took them. In his hand he held a forked pole of 
black iron ; on his back he carried a black-bristled, 

Da Derga : Its location was a few miles South of Dublin. The road 
thither has the same name it had in the first century. Boher Na 
Breena. 


98 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


singed pig which squealed vociferously; and after 
him hurried a large-mouthed, ugly woman. 

“Welcome to you, my master Conaire,” he 
said. 

“Who gives this welcome ?” said Conaire. 

“Fer Coille, the Man of the Wood,” said he, 
giving Conaire an uncanny glance of his one 
great eye. “I offer you the shelter of my house 
tonight; and my black pig is a surety that you 
shall not go fasting, but feast and sleep as be- 
comes the best king in the world.” 

“I will not go to your house tonight,” said 
Conaire, “but any other night it pleases you I 
will accept your hospitality, only leave me now 
and go your own way.” 

“That we will not do,” replied Fer Coille, “but 
we will spend the night with you in whatever 
place you may be, O fair little master, Conaire.” 

So he went on toward the inn; his wife be- 
hind him, and his black pig squealing on his 
back. 

Soon afterward Conaire saw three horsemen 
going toward the inn. They had red cloaks ; red 
shields and red spears in their hands and they 
were mounted on red horses. 

“What men are these riding before me?” said 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


99 


Conaire, “I am under geasa not to let them go 
before me: three Reds to the house of Red, that 
is the house of Derga. Who will overtake them 
and bid them come back and follow me?” 

“1 will overtake them,” said Lefriflaith, Con- 
aire’s son, and speaking to his horse he gal- 
loped away. 

But however fast he rode he could not overtake 
the three red horses and their red-clad riders, 
so he called to them to turn back and not con- 
tinue riding before the king. To his first and 
second call they did not reply, but the third time 
one of the three men looked back and said : “Dire 
news awaits us, my son, wetting of swords; de- 
stroying of life; shields with broken bosses after 
the fall of night! We ride the horses of the 
Sidhe, and although we are alive we are dead.” 
With that the three red riders vanished, and 
Lefriflaith went back to his father. 

“You did not keep back the men,” said Con- 
aire. 

“I have failed indeed,” said Lefriflaith, “but I 
could do no more than I have done.” And then 
he told the king and his people what the red 
horseman had said. This gave them all great un- 
easiness, and Conaire said: “All my bonds are 

Lefriflaith [Lef'ri flah]. Flaith: Prince. 


100 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


broken tonight, and those three Reds before me 
are sent by the Sidhe.” 

Now while Conaire and his people were on 
the road of Cualu, going toward the inn, Ingcel 
and the outlaws of Eire were come in their ships 
to the coast of Bregia opposite Etair. And the 
sons of Dond Dessa said: “Furl the sails now, 
and send a light-footed messenger on shore to 
find out what prospect there is of keeping our 
bargain with Ingcel; we must give him spoil for 
spoil.” 

“Let some man go” said Ingecel “who has the 
gifts of keen hearing, far-sight and judgment.” 

“I have the gift of keen hearing,” said Maine 
Milscothach. “And I have the gift of far-sight 
and judgment” said Maine Andoc. 

“Then it is well for you both to go,” said the 
others. 

So they landed and fared on until they came to 
Beinn Etair, and there they stopped to see and 
hear. 

“Be quiet; listen,” said Maine Milscothach. 

“What do you hear?” said Maine Andoc. 

“I hear the coming of a king,” was the reply 
“Look now and tell me what you see.” 

“I see,” said Maine Milscothach, “a great 

Milscothach [Mils ko'hah]: Honey-blossoms Andoc [An 'ok]: 
Youthful Beinn Etair [Ben Edar]. proper names and names 
of places are often spelled differently in 'different texts. 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


101 


company of men traveling over hills and rivers. 
They have clothes of every color, grey spears 
over their chariots, and swords with ivory hilts 
and silver shields. And I swear by the gods of 
the air the horses they have with them are the 
horses of some great chief.” 

“It is my opinion,” said Maine Andoc, “that 
the king you see is Conaire, son of Eterscel, 
traveling with a great company of men of Eire.” 

With that they went back and told their com- 
rades what they had heard and seen. So the sons 
of Dond Dessa and Ingcel had their boats 
brought to shore and landed on the strand of Fur- 
buithe. 

Just at this moment Mac Cecht was strik- 
ing a spark to kindle a fire in the inn before the 
High King. 

And Conaire and his people when they ar- 
rived at the inn entered and seated themselves; 
and so did the three red men, and the Man of the 
Wood, the swineherd of the Sidhe, with his 
squealing pig. 

And when they were seated Da Derga came to 
greet them. With him were three times fifty long 
haired fighting men. Each one of them wore a 


Furbuithe [Fur bwee'hah]. 


102 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


short cloak and carried a great blackthorn stick 
with bands of iron. 

“ Welcome, my master Conaire,” said Da 
Derga, “and if you were to bring all the men of 
Eire with you there would be a welcome for them 
all.” 

When twilight shades had fallen, a lone woman 
came to the inn. She was wrapped in a grey 
woolen cloak over which fell the tangled masses 
of her long hair. Her mouth was drawn to one 
side of her head and she leaned against the door- 
post and threw an evil eye on the king and the 
young men about him. 

“Well, woman,” said Conaire, “if you have 
the Druid sight, what is it you see for us?” 

“This is what I see for you,” said she, “nothing 
of your skin; or, of your flesh, will escape from 
the place you are now in, except what the birds 
will bring away in their claws. And now let me 
go into the house,” she continued, attempting to 
enter. 

“I am under geasa,” said Conaire, “not to let 
one lone woman enter the house after the setting 
of the sun.” And turning to the servants he 
said: “Bring this woman a good share of food 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


103 


from my own table; but see that she spends the 
night under some other roof than this.” 

“If the king is no longer hospitable, and it has 
become his custom not to let one lone woman 
come into his house to be fed and lodged, I will 
go elsewhere and seek hospitality from some bet- 
ter man.” 

“Let her in regardless of my bonds,” said 
Conaire when he heard that. 

So they let her in, but none of them felt easy in 
their minds after what she had said. 

While all this was happening, the outlaws were 
on their way to the inn. And when they came to 
Leccaibcend Slebe they saw the great light which 
was shining from the inn through the wheels of 
the chariots that were outside the doors. 

“What is that great light yonder in the dis- 
tance?” said Ingcel to Ferogain. 

“I think it must be the fire of Conaire, the 
High King,” said Ferogain, “and I fear if he is 
there tonight that harm will come to him, or his 
life be shortened; and he a branch in its blossom!” 

“And I count it good luck if he is there” said 
Ingcel. “Spoil for spoil! Should Conaire fall 
into our hands it would be no worse for you, than 


Leccaibcend Slebe [Lack' av kin Schlav]. 


104 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


it was for us when we lost our people and our 
our king!” 

'That is true! That is true!” said all the 
others. 

Then every man of them brought a stone from 
the strand to make a cairn, as was their custom 
before making an attack on any place, for 
by this they could determine how many men had 
been lost. For every man that would come from 
the fight would take his stone from the cairn and 
the stones of all that had been killed would be left 
there. 

After the cairn was made they held a council, 
and it was agreed that Ingcel should go as a 
spy to the inn. So he went and spent some time 
looking in through the seven doors of the house. 
But at last one of the men inside caught sight 
of him, and Ingcel, seeing that he was found 
out, made his way back to where his comrades 
were sitting, with their leaders in the middle, 
waiting to hear his tidings from the inn. 

"Did you see the house, Ingcel?” said Fero- 
gain ?” 

"I have looked through the seven doors of it,” 
said Ingcel "and whether there is a king in it or 

Cairn [Kam] : A hill. 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


105 


not it is a royal house, and I will take it for my 
share when the spoils are divided.” 

“You may do that,” said Conaire’s foster 
brothers, “but we will not go against it before we 
know who is in it.” 

“The first I saw” said Ingcel, “was a large 
man of good race with bright eyes and hair like 
flax; his face was wide above and narrow below 
and he had no beard. His mien was modest and 
frank. He had a five barbed spear and a shield 
with five gold circles on it. There were nine men 
round-about him, all fine looking and so much 
alike that you would think that they had the same 
father and mother. Who were those men, Fero- 
gain?” 

“It is easy to answer that,” said Ferogain. 
“They were Cormac Conloingeas and his nine 
comrades. These men have never put anyone to 
death because of poverty, nor spared him because 
of riches. It is a good leader they have, for Cor- 
mac is the best fighter behind a shield in all Eire. 
I swear by the gods of the air, it is no small 
slaughter they will make before the inn tonight.” 

“If I had my way,” said Lomna Druth, the 
jester, “an attack on the inn should never be made 

Conloingeas [Koon ling'ahs]. Conall Cearnach [Con'nal Kar'nach]. 


106 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


if it were only for the sake of that one man, the 
comely and gracious Cormac Conloingeas.” 

“Your wishes will have no weight in this mat- 
ter. It is not of Cormac, but of yourself you are 
thinking, I know you well, you are but a poor 
fighter and the mists of weakness are darkening 
round you. No one, either old man or story teller, 
will be able to say that I drew back from this 
fight before I had gone through it.” 

“That is all well enough for you to say, Ing- 
cel,” said Lomna. “You will live to take part in 
many another fight ; and you will bring away the 
head of a strange king with you from this one; 
but, as for me, my head will be the first to be 
tossed to and fro tonight.” 

“What did you see after that?” said Ferogain 
to Ingcel interrupting the conversation. 

“I saw a room in which were three tender 
youths, wearing cloaks of silk with golden fasten- 
ings. Their golden hair was as curly as a ram's 
head. A golden shield and the candle of a king's 
house was over each one of them, and they were 
favorites of the entire household. Can you tell 
me who they were Ferogain?” 

But Ferogain was weeping so that the tears 
ran down the front of his cloak, and it was a long 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


107 


time before he could control himself sufficiently 
to speak. “O little ones !" he said then, “1 
have good reason for weeping. Those three fair 
youths are the king's sons Oball, Obline and 
Corpre Findmor." 

“Ah, grief is ours if that story be true," said 
the other sons of Dond Dessa, “for none are 
more worthy of love than the king's sons. They 
are mannerly, brave and kind. All who have 
been with them regret parting from them. 
Shame on him who would destroy them!" 

“I saw after that," continued Ingcel, “a man 
with a golden bush of hair the size of a reaping 
basket. A long, heavy, three-edged sword was in 
his hand, and he carried a red shield speckled 
with rivets of white bronze between plates of 
gold." 

“That man is known to all men of Eire," said 
Ferogain, “He is Conall Cearnach, son of 
Amergin ; of all the men in the world he is dear- 
est to Conaire. The shield he carries is the 
Lam-tapaid. When the attack on the inn is made 
Conall Cearnach with his Lam-tapaid will be at 
every one of its seven doorways. What did you 
see after that, Ingcel?" 

“I saw" he said, “a big brown man with short 

Amergin [Ow'er gin]. Lam-tapid [ Lav-tap' pee] : The Quick-Hand. 


108 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


brown hair, who wore a red speckled cloak and 
his shield was black with clasps of gold. With 
him were two chief men, in their first greyness, 
and black swords hung at their sides. One of 
them had in his hand a great spear with fifty 
rivets through it. He shook the sword over his 
head and struck the haft against the palm of his 
hand three times and then plunged it into a great 
pot that stood before them, and when he was put- 
ting it in, there were flames on the shaft. Who 
were those men, Ferogain?” 

“That brown man is Muinremar, son of Geir- 
gind, one of the champions of the Red Branch. 
One of his companions is Sencha, the beautiful 
son of Ailell. The man with the spear is Du- 
ach, the Beetle of Ulster, and the spear in his 
hand is Celthair’s Luin. It was in the battle of 
Magh Tuireadh, and was brought from the East 
by the three children of Tuireann. When the 
hour of battle is near, it flames up of itself, and 
it must be kept in a caldron of water or it will 
pierce whoever grasps it.” 

“And after that”, said Ingcel, “ I saw a room 
in which were nine fair haired men with speckled 
cloaks. Above them were nine bagpipes, and the 
ornaments they wore emitted a brilliant light.” 

Muinremur [Win row' [cow] er]. Geirgind [Gar 'gin]. Sencha 

[Shan'cha]. Celthair’s Luin [Kelt'yher’s Lin]. 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


109 


“Those are the nine pipers from the hill of the 
Sidhe at Bregia,” said Ferogain, “They came to 
Conaire because of his great fame. They are 
the best pipers in the whole world. They are 
good fighters; but to fight with them is to fight 
with a shadow ; for they kill, but cannot be killed, 
because they are from Sidhe.” 

“And next I saw three very large men, terrible 
to look at. Their clothing was made of rough 
hair, and each one of them held a club of iron in 
his hand. They stood alone sad and silent ; every 
one in the house avoiding them. Who were 
those men Ferogain?” 

Ferogain was silent for a while and then he 
answered : “I do not know who these men can be 
unless they are the three giants Cuchulain spared 
the time he took them from the men of Falga. 
He would not let them be killed because of their 
strange appearance. Conaire bought them from 
Cuchulain after that and they are with him yet.” 

“I saw nine men in the north part of the house,” 
said Ingcel, “having manes of very yellow hair, 
and short linen dresses and purple cloaks without 
brooches, broad spears, and red curved shields.” 

“I know those men:” said Ferogain, “they are 
three royal princes of Britain; Oswald, Osbrit 

Cuchulain [Kooh' ul lan]: The most renowned of the Red Branch 
Knights, A Pagan order which flourished in the first century of the 
Christian era. Cuchulain was called the mightiest hero of the 
Scots. Scots: A name by which the ancient inhabitants of Ire- 
land were known in history and song. 


110 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


of the Long Hand, and Lindas, and their foster 
brothers, all of whom are with the king.” 

“And three Red Men I saw after that” ; Ingcel 
continued, “red shields above them, red spears in 
their hands and their three red horses were 
bridled in front of the inn.” 

“These are three false and deceitful champions 
from the Sidhe,” said Ferogain. “They were sen- 
tenced by the king of the Sidhe to be thrice de- 
stroyed by the king of Teamhair, and Conaire 
is the last king through whom they will be 
destroyed. It is to work out their own destruc- 
tion they are come. What more did you see? 
Tell us more, O Ingcel of Britain, for with thy 
one eye thou hast seen more than most other 
men could see with two.” 

“I saw a white haired man, partly bald and in 
his ears were rings of gold. In his hands were 
nine swords, nine shields, and nine golden apples. 
He kept throwing each one of them upward and 
not one would fall on the ground, but all would 
rise and fall past each other like bees on a sunny 
day. But when I looked at him he let everything 
drop to the ground, and the people about him 
cried out in amazement; and the king, who was 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


111 


sitting near by, said to him: 'We have been to- 
gether since I was a little boy, and your tricks 
never failed until tonight/ " 

"'My grief/ he said, 'Fair master Conaire, 
good cause there is for failure; an unfriendly 
eye looked at me, and there is some bad thing in 
front of the inn !' " 

"When the king heard this he said : 'This re- 
minds me of a dream I had a while ago: In my 
sleep I heard the howling of my dog Ossar ; the 
groans of wounded men ; and felt the bitterness of 
a wind of terror on which was wafted the caoin- 
ing which overcomes laughter/ " 

"The man with the earrings was Taulchinne, 
Conaire's juggler/' said Ferogain. "And tell me 
now, what was the appearance of the king?" 

"Stately and handsome is Conaire, the king," 
said Ingcel "and though young, wisdom and 
power speak in his glances. His hair was purest 
gold; the cloak about him the mist of a May 
morning, changing from color to color, fading 
and brightening with beauty untold. The brooch 
he wore was a wheel of gold reaching from his 
chin to his waist, and within his reach lay his 
golden hilted sword." 

"That was Conaire, the High King indeed," 


Taulchinne [Tawl kin'na]. 


112 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


said Ferogain. “Of all the kings of the world he 
is the greatest and best and comeliest. In wisdom 
bravery and eloquence he excels all men. A sim- 
ple man peaceable and affectionate ; but, when his 
anger is aroused, and he would right a wrong, 
not all the champions of Eire and Alban will win 
their battle while he is against them. And I 
swear by the gods of the air, unless overcome by 
thirst or sleep, that man alone would hold the inn 
until help could gather to him from the wave of 
Cliodna in the south, to the wave of Easruadh in 
the west/’ “It is time for us to arise,” said 
Ingcel then, “and proceed to the inn.” 

So with that the outlaws rose and went on to 
the inn, and the clamor of their voices was heard 
round-about it. 

Conaire was the first to hear them. “Listen,” 
he said, “what is that noise without?” 

“The shouts and challenges of fighting men.” 
said Conall Cearnach. 

“There are fighting men to meet them here!” 
exclaimed the king. 

“They will be wanted tonight!” added Conall, 
raising his voice above contentious cries and 
clash of weapons. 

Cliodna [Clee'nah]. Easruadh [Ahs rod 'ah] : The three “tonns M 
or waves of Eire were the wave of Truagh beyond the mouth of the 
river Bann, the wave of Ruraigh in Dundrum Bay and the wave 
of Cliodna in Glandore harbor in the South of Cork. 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


113 


CHAPTER IV. 

Then Lomna Druth, the jester, ahead of all 
the others, broke into the house, and the door- 
keepers struck off his head, and it was tossed 
three times in and out of the inn, just as he had 
foretold. 

And one man attacked another until all were 
in the fray, and Conaire, the king, went out with 
his people and many of the outlaws fell by his 
hand. Three times the inn was set on fire and 
three times the flames were extinguished, and 
after that Conaire made his way back to where 
his weapons lay, for he had been without them 
through the first of the fight; then, fully armed, 
he went out again and drove the outlaws back 
with great slaughter. 

“I told you” said Ferogain, “that all the men 
of Eire could not take the house from Conaire, 
the king!” 

But the druids, who were along with the out- 
laws, said: “His hour of triumph will soon end, 
and the day of victory be ours !” 

And by means of their druidical enchantments 
Conaire became very thirsty, and went into the 
inn for drink. 


114 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


“A drink for me, MacCecht!” he cried. 

“It is not such a command as that, MacCecht 
is used to taking from Conaire, the king,” an- 
swered MacCecht. “My duty is to keep you from 
the men who seek to slay you ; but ask a drink of 
your steward or your cup-bearers.” 

Then Conaire called to his cup-bearers for 
water. “There is none” they answered, “for 
every drop in the house was thrown on the fire 
to put it out.” 

“Get me a drink,” said Conaire, speaking 
again to MacCecht. “I may as well die by an 
outlaw’s hand as for the want of water.” 

Then MacCecht asked the champions of Eire 
who stood near the king which they would rather 
do: go out and find him a drink or stay in the 
house and defend him. Conall Cearnach replied : 
“Leave the defense of the king to us, and go 
yourself for the water, for it was of you the king 
asked it.” 

So MacCecht went to look for a drink and 
he took Conaire’s great golden cup with him 
and he armed himself with the iron cauldron 
spit. And as he sped through the outlaws he de- 
fended himself with the spit; and many an out- 
law died from a blow of it. And finally holding 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


115 


his shield before him, he made a round with his 
sword above his head and cutting down all before 
him made his way past chiefs and champions. 

And all that happened after that would make 
too long a story. The people of the inn came out 
to meet the attack of the outlaws; and, though 
some died in the fight, many escaped. At last 
there was no one left in the inn with Conaire 
but Conall, Sencha and Duach. 

Now Conaire from rage and fighting had 
brought a fever of thirst upon himself ; which so 
overcame him that after hours of suffering he 
died. 

When the other three men saw that the high 
king was dead they went out, and, cutting their 
way through their enemies, wounded and dis- 
heartened escaped with their lives. 

And Conall Cearnach, when he had sufficiently 
recovered his strength, went on to his father’s 
house. But half his shield was left in his hand, 
and his two spears were bent and broken. 

He found Amergin, his father, out before his 
dun in Tailltin. “Those are fierce wolves that 
have hunted you, my son,” said Amergin. 

“I am not wounded by wolves but by fierce 
fighting men,” said Conall. 

Tailltin [Tel' tin]: Now called Telltown. Fairs were held herefrom 
earliest times until the twelfth century. Tailltin is the Olympia of 
the Gael. 


116 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


“What news have you brought from Da 
Derga's inn?” said Amergin. “Is Conaire, 
your king, still living?” 

“The king no longer lives.” answered Conall. 

“I swear by the gods the great tribes of Ulster 
swear by, he is but a coward, who came out alive, 
leaving his king dead among his enemies.” 

“My own wounds are not white, my hero 
father.” said Conall, showing his right arm cov- 
ered with frightful gashes. 

“That arm has indeed been in the fight,” said 
Conall. 

“There are many now lying in front of the inn 
to whom it dealt dark death last night,” said 
Conall. 

Now, as to MacCecht: after he made his way 
through the outlaws, he hurried to the well of 
Ceasair, which was near by in Crith Cualann ; but, 
there was not so much as the full of the cup of 
water in it. On through the night he went from 
lake to lake, and from river to river, but he could 
not find the full of the cup of water in any of 
them. At last he came to Uaran Garad on Magh 
Ai, and it could not hide itself from him and so 
he filled his cup and retracing his steps, reached 
the inn before morning. And when he arrived 

Ceasair [Kay'sar]. Crith [Creh]. Uaran Garad [Oo'ran Gaw' 
rah] Magh Ai is in Roscommon. 


THE ARD RIGH OF EIRE 


117 


there he saw two men in the act of striking off 
Conaire’s head. 

With a sure blow MacCecht struck one of 
them, and severed his head from his body. Mean- 
while the other man made haste to get away with 
King Conaire’s head; but, MacCecht picking up 
a stone threw it and wounded him unto death. 

Then he stooped and poured the water from the 
golden cup into Conaire’s mouth. And, after the 
water was poured in, MacCecht heard the voice 
of Conaire say: “A good man and a great 
champion, brave of heart and hand is MacCecht. 
It is he who found a drink of water for a thirsty 
king. Gallantly he fought; no fear had he of 
furious foes ! Would that I were alive once more 
to honor MacCecht of the great name/’ 

After that MacCecht brought the body of the 
high king to Teamhair and buried him there as 
befitted a king. Then he went away to his own 
province of Connacht, and the place he chose to 
live in was called Magh Bron-gear, because of 
his bitter grief. 

And for many years after that no Ard Righ 
was chosen to reign over Eire. 


Bron-gear: Sharp sorrow. 


Deirdre or the Fate of the 
Sons of Usnach 


CHAPTER I. 

EDLIMID, the son of Doll, was 
harper to king Conchubar. One f 
day when Cathbad, the druid, was 
at Fedlimid’s house he foretold 
that a daughter would be born to 
him. This was unexpected news 
to Fedlimid. “I do not believe such a thing can 
come to pass, Cathbad,” said he. 

“Nevertheless,” said Cathbad, “I see by Druid 
signs that on account of a daughter of yours, who 
is not yet born, much blood will be shed in Eire, 
and great heroes and candles of the Gael will lose 
their lives because of her.” 

“If that is your foretelling, you would better 
keep it to yourself ; and, moreover, I do not believe 
a word of it.” said Fedlimid, for the druid’s 
prophecy angered him. 

“But you will live to know my foretelling is 

Deirdre [Dar'drah]. Usna [dos'nah]. Felimid [Fa'li meh]. 

Doll [Dholl]. Conchubar [Con' a choor]. Cathbad [Caw' faj. 



118 


DEIRDRE 


119 


true, Fedlimid,” replied Cathbad, “for I have 
seen it all clearly in my mind.” And with that 
he went away. 

Though Fedlimid pretended not to believe what 
the druid had said, still he pondered over it night 
and day and feared in his heart it might come 
true. And he determined that if the child should 
be born, as foretold, he would hide her away 
where no eye could see her, and no ear could 
hear of her, and thus prevent the woe and war- 
fare which Cathbad had said should be in Eire 
for her sake. 

And it happened in due course of time that the 
prophecy came true, and soon after the child was 
born Cathbad went to Fedlimid’s house and Fed- 
limid was ashamed when he saw him and remem- 
bered how he would not believe his words. 

But the druid looked at the child and said : “Let 
Deirdre be her name; disaster will come through 
her.” 

Then he took her in his arms and said “O 
Deirdre, fair daughter of Fedlimid, there will be 
trouble in Ulster for your sake! O flame of 
beauty, you shall kindle deeds of wrath in Emain ; 
heroes will fight for you, and the sons of kings 
meet banishment and death! Woe and warfare 

Emain [Aw' win] : Emain Macha, the residence of the kings of Ulster. 
The remains are about two miles west of Armagh. They consist of 
a great circular rath, with a deep trench outside of it, and a high 
mound. The space within the rath is about thirteen acres. Emain 
Macha was founded about three centuries before the beginning of 
the Christian era by Macha of the Golden Hair, queen of Ulster. 


120 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


are in your fate, O fairest child! You will have 
a little grave apart to yourself ; you will be a tale 
of wonder forever, Deirdre.” 

Then Cathbad went away, and Fedlimid still 
seeking to avert the fate foretold for Deirdre 
gathered together his men, and brought them 
away with him to a great, lonely mountain, and 
there he bade them make a little house by the 
side of a round, green hillock and plant a garden 
of apple trees behind it and build a wall about it. 
And over the house he bade them put a roof of 
green sods so that passers-by could not distin- 
guish the house from the hillock, nor think that 
any one lived there. 

And Fedlimid chose Levarcham, daughter of 
Aedh, to care for Deirdre, and sent her and his 
child to live in the sod-covered house on the great, 
wild mountain. And he made everything com- 
fortable for them, and gave them a store of pro- 
visions, and he told Levarcham that she should 
never want for anything as long as she lived. 

And so Deirdre and her foster mother lived on 
the lonely mountain and no stranger discovered 
their whereabouts for fourteen years. And 
Deirdre grew as straight and trim as a rush in a 
bog; and she was as graceful as the swan on the 

Levarcham [Low' [cow] er kam] 


DEIRDRE 


121 


wave; and fleet as the deer on the hill. And no 
maiden in Eire was more beautiful or gentle. 

And all the knowledge that Levarcham had 
she imparted to Deirdre. There was not a blade 
of grass, nor a bird singing in the wood, nor a 
star shining from heaven but Deirdre knew the 
name of it. There was one thing however which 
Levarcham denied to Deirdre and that was the 
friendship of any other person than herself. 

But one cloudy, winter night a hunter lost his 
way on the mountain, and as he wandered on he 
was overcome with weariness and sleep, and lay 
down on the side of the green hillock near 
Deirdre’s house. And while he was lying there 
he dreamed that he was near a house of the Sidhe, 
and could feel the warmth which radiated from 
it; and hear the suantraigh of the sidhe within. 
And he called out in his dream : “Let whoever is 
inside bring me in also, in the name of the sun 
and the moon.” 

Deirdre heard the voice and asked Levarcham 
its meaning. “It is only the birds of the air who 
have gone astray, and are trying to find one 
another” said Levarcham, “but let them go 
back to the branches of the wood.” Soon the 
hunter cried out again in his dream, and again 

Suantraigh [Shoon ' three] : Sleep, music. 


122 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


Deirdre wished to know whence the sound came. 
And again Levarcham answered: “The birds of 
the air are looking for one another, let them go 
past to the branches of the wood." 

Then the third time the hunter called: “Let 
whoever is inside bring me in also, in the name 
of the elements, for I am perishing with cold and 
hunger/' 

“Oh tell me what is that, Levarcham?" said 
Deirdre. 

“Nothing for you to see, my child," answered 
Levarcham, “nothing but the birds of the air; 
they are lost to one another. Let them go past 
to the branches of the wood; there is no place nor 
shelter for them here tonight." 

“O, Levarcham," said Deirdre, “the bird asked 
to come in in the name of the sun and the moon ; 
and you have told me we must never refuse what 
is asked like that. If you will not let in the bird 
that is perishing with cold and hunger, I must 
do it myself." 

So Deirdre drew the bolt from the leaf of the 
door, and let in the hunter. And she offered him 
a seat, and food, and drink. 

“Come now and eat," then said Deirdre “for 
you must be very hungry." 


DEIRDRE 


123 


“Hungry and cold, indeed, was I when I came 
into this house” said the hunter, “but, by my 
word, the first glance from your bright eyes made 
me forget it all/' 

“How little you are able to curb your tongue,” 
said Levarcham to him. “You are given the shel- 
ter of a house and the warmth of a hearth on this 
dark, winter night and the only thing asked in 
return is that you keep quiet.” 

“I am thankful for your kindness,” said the 
hunter, “and surely I shall strive to talk as little 
as possible; but, I swear by the oath my people 
swear by, that if some of the people of the world 
whom I know saw the loveliness that is hidden 
away here they would soon take it from you.” 

“Who are they?” said Deirdre. 

“I will tell you,” said the hunter ; “they are 
Naoise, son of Usnach, and Ainnle and Ardan, 
his two brothers.” 

“Describe these men to me,” said Levarcham, 
“so that if w r e should ever meet, I would know 
them.” 

“I can describe them no better than this:” 
said the hunter, “their hair is black as the raven’s 
wing; their skin is white as the swan’s. Their 
cheeks are like the blood of the speckled, red calf 

Ainnle [Ahn'leh]. Ardan [Awr'dhan ' ]. Naoise [Nee'sha]. 


124 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


and the salmon of the stream or the deer of the 
grey mountain cannot out-leap them. And the 
head and shoulders of Naoise are above those of 
all the other men of Eire.” 

'That may all be” said Levarcham, instead of 
thanking him for his description, "but do you go 
away from here as fast as possible, and take 
another road from that you came; and, by my 
word, I have small thanks for you or for her who 
let you in.” 

"You need not send him away for saying what 
he did to me,” interposed Deirdre, "for I already 
knew about those three men; I saw them in a 
dream last night, and they were hunting upon a 
hill.” 

But the hunter did not seek to tarry longer in 
Levarcham’s house; and as he walked away he 
kept thinking how lonely Conchubar, the Ard 
Righ of Ulster, must be; for he had no wife to 
greet him night and morning. And he thought 
that if Conchubar could see the beautiful maiden 
of the mountain he would bring her home and 
make her his queen. "And,” he said to himself, 
"I will get the good will of the king by telling him 
where there is a maiden worthy in every way to 
be his wife.” 


DEIRDRE 


125 


So he went directly to the palace at Emain 
Macha, and sent word to king Conchubar that he 
had news for him, and begged him to hear it. 

The king sent for him and asked him the 
reason of his journey to Emain Macha. 

“I have come to tell you, O King,” said the 
hunter, “that I have seen the most beautiful 
maiden that ever was born in Eire.” 

“Who is this maiden?” said the king, “and 
where did you see her ? It is strange indeed that 
no one has told me of her before. Are you sure 
it was not in a dream you have seen her ?” 

“I am not telling you a dream, O king, but no 
other man has seen this beautiful creature, nor 
can anyone see her unless I tell him of her dwell- 
ing place.” 

“If' you will bring me where she is, you shall 
have a good reward,” said the king. 

“I will bring you there,” said the hunter. 

“Remain with my household tonight,” said the 
king, “and early tomorrow morning I and my 
people will go with you.” 

“I will stay,” said the hunter. And he stayed 
that night in the household of king Conchubar. 

Then Conchubar sent word to Fergus and 
other great men of Ulster what he was about to 


126 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


do. And though it was early when the songs of 
the birds began in the woods, it was earlier still 
when Conchubar, the Ard Righ of Ulster, arose 
with his little company of friends in the fresh 
May morning. And the dewdrops were glisten- 
ing on bush and flower as they journeyed along 
toward the green hill where Deirdre was living. 

And many a young man who had set out in the 
morning with a glad, light step walked wearily 
and slowly before the end of the day ; so long and 
craggy was the way. 

They were all happy when the hunter said, 
pointing to a little valley on the side of the mount- 
ain: “The maiden you seek lives in yonder vale, 
and may no wind of misfortune blow your foot- 
steps aside before you reach it; but, as for me, I 
will go no nearer it than this.” 

Conchubar and his friends then hastened to 
the green hillock, and they knocked at the door of 
Deirdre’s house. Levarcham called out that 
neither answer nor opening would be given to 
anyone whatsoever, and that she did not wish to 
be disturbed. 

“Open/’ said Conchubar, “in the name of the 
Ard Righ of Ulster.” 

When Levarcham heard Conchubar’s voice, 


DEIRDRE 


127 


she knew it would be impossible to conceal 
Deirdre any longer; so she hastened to let in the 
king and as many of his people as could follow 
him. 

The king, when he beheld Deirdre, thought 
that never in the course of the day, or in the 
dreams of the night, had he seen so beautiful a 
creature; and there and then he gave her his 
heart full of love. And he put Deirdre up on the 
shoulders of his men and she and Levarcham 
were brought away to Emain Macha. 

And Deirdre promised that, after a year and 
a day had gone by, she would become the wife of 
Conchubar and queen of Ulster. Conchubar 
gave her for companions pleasant, modest maid- 
ens of her own age and a teacher from whom she 
learned the things most useful for young girls to 
know. And she became wise and skillful, and 
more beautiful, and Conchubar loved her more 
than anything in the world. 


128 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


CHAPTER II. 

One day, when Deirdre and her companions 
were walking on a hill near Emain Macha in the 
pleasant sunshine, they saw three men coming 
toward them. And as they came nearer Deirdre 
remembered what the hunter had said, and 
thought of the three men she had seen in her 
dream, and she said to herself: “These men I 
now see are the three sons of Usnach, and the 
tallest one is Naoise, he who is head and 
shoulders above all the men of Eire.” 

The three brothers passed by without turning 
to look at the young maidens on the hill side. 
They were singing as they walked and the sing- 
ing of the sons of Usnach was enchantment and 
sweetest music to all listeners. And when 
Deirdre heard it, so great a love for Naoise came 
into her heart, that she could not help calling 
him, and her voice rang clear: “Naoise, Naoise, 
son of Usnach, take me with you.” 

Now Ainnle and Ardan, when they heard her 
call, knew it was the beautiful young maiden from 
the court of Conchubar; and they feared that if 
Naoise, their brother, should see her he would 
want her for his wife; for she was not yet mar- 


DEIRDRE 


129 


ried to the king. So they said to each other : “Let 
us hasten our steps for the road is long and the 
dusk of evening coming on.” They wished to 
get out of sight and hearing of Deirdre before 
Naoise should see her. But he had heard her and 
he said: “What cry was that? It seems to me it 
is not well for me to answer, and yet it is not easy 
for me to refuse.” 

“It was but the cry of Conchubar’s wild ducks” 
said his brothers. “Let us quicken our steps for 
we have a long road to travel and the dusk of 
evening is coming on. ” 

They did so, and were speedily widening the 
distance between Deirdre and themselves when 
again she called: “Naoise, Naoise, son of Usnach, 
take me with you.” 

“What cry is this that strikes my heart? 
I do not know whether to answer it, or to dis- 
regard it,” said Naoise. 

“It is the honking of Conchubar's wild 
geese,” answered his brothers, “let us not tarry 
to listen, but make the best of our time for the 
darkness of night is coming on.” 

So they hurried along, and the distance be- 
tween themselves and Deirdre grew wider and 
wider, and again her call came fainter and 


130 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


sweeter: “Naoise, Naoise, son of Usnach, take 
me with you.” 

“Someone is calling me,” exclaimed Naoise 
“so sweet a voice my ears have never heard, but 
it strikes my heart like steel.” 

“You have heard but the scream of Conchu- 
bar’s lake swans,” said his brothers. 

“It is a human cry I have heard,” replied 
Naoise, “and I swear by my hand of valour I will 
go no further until I find the one who has given 
it.” 

So Naoise turned back and met Deirdre and 
he thought he had never seen a woman so beauti- 
ful ; and there and then he gave her a greater 
love than he had ever given any vision, or living 
creature. 

And he lifted her high on his shoulder, and 
said to his brothers : “Now indeed we may hasten 
our steps, and end our journey while yet some 
light is left in the sky.” 

“Leave the maiden here,” said Ainnle and 
Ardan, “it will bring disaster upon us thus to 
take her away.” 

“Nevertheless, she shall go with us,” said 
Naoise, “and we will leave Conchubar’s kingdom 
before he has a chance to take her from us.” 


DEIRDRE 


131 


So the sons of Usnach called their people 
together and that night they set out with three 
times fifty men; three times fifty women, and 
three times fifty wolf dogs, and in their midst was 
Deirdre. 

And they traveled from one part of Eire to 
another; from Essruadh in the south, to Beinn 
Etair in the east, and they were often in danger 
of being destroyed by Conchubar’s devices. 

One time the Druids raised a thick and thorny 
spinney before them, but Naoise and his brothers 
cut their way through it. Another time, while 
they were crossing a ford, through the spells of 
the Sidhe the waters rose around them and they 
barely escaped drowning, one and all. 

And finally they sailed away to the island of 
Alban, and settled in a lonely place. And when 
hunting failed them they fell upon the cattle in 
the fields about them. And the men of Alban, in 
order to avenge themselves for the destruction of 
their cattle, gathered together to make an end of 
the sons of Usnach and their people. 

But they called upon the king of Alban for aid, 
and he lent them a friendly hand in all their en- 
counters and difficulties. 

All this time the king of Alban knew nothing 


132 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


of Deirdre nor had the sons of Usnach let any 
stranger see her. But it happened that early one 
morning the king's steward made his way into 
the house where Naoise and Deirdre lived; and 
waiting but for one glimpse of her wonderful 
beauty, he hastened back to the king and said: 
“O King, I have done what has never been done 
before: I have found a woman who would make 
a fitting wife for you. She dwells on the shore 
of Loch Ness, and is well worthy of you, O king 
of Alban. But before she can be queen, Naoise 
must die; for it is his wife of whom I am speak- 
ing." 

“I will not harm Naoise," said the king, “but 
go you secretly to the beautiful woman and bid 
her come to see me." 

The steward brought the king’s message to 
Deirdre, but she sent him away, and told all he 
had said to her, to Naoise. So the king sent the 
sons of Usnach into every hard fight, hoping they 
would meet their death, but they won every 
battle and came safe again home. And they 
moved to Loch Eitche near the sea and for a 
while lived there in peace and comfort. And for 
food they caught the salmon of a spring-fed 
stream, from the door of their dwelling; and, 


Etcha : In present glen Etive in Scotland. 


DEIRDRE 


133 


from their windows, they killed the deer of the 
grey hills. 

And when Naoise went to the court of Alban’s 
king, none of the great men there were more 
splendidly attired. He wore a bright purple 
cloak of finest fit, trimmed with fringe of gold. 
IHis coat had fifty hooks of silver, and a brooch 
on which were a hundred polished gems. His 
weapons were a gold-hilted sword ; two blue- 
green spears with bright points and a dagger, 
the color of yellow gold, which had a hilt of 
silver. 

And the two children of Naoise and Deirdre 
were named Gaiar and Aebgreine; and were 
given into the keeping of Mannanan MacLir, the 
sea god, and were reared by him with greatest 
care in Emain of the Appletrees. And Man- 
nanan had Bobaras, the poet, come to impart 
learning to Gaiar; and when Aebgreine of the 
Sunny Face was grown to womanhood she be- 
came the wife of Rinn, son of Eochaidh Iuil of 
Tir-na-n-og. 

Gaiar [Gay'ar]. Aebgreine [Av gra'nah]. Eochaidh Iuil [Och' 
ee Yule]. Tir'-na-n-og ' : Land of the young. 


134 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


CHAPTER III. 

And Conchubar still reigned in Ulster. And 
he gave a splendid feast for the greatest of his 
nobles; and at the feast were Cathbad the druid; 
Geanan, son of Cathbad; Ferceirtne; Sencha, 
son of Ailell; Conall Cearnach; Fergus and 
Cuchulain of Muirthemne, Knight of the Red 
Branch of Ulster, and many other poets and 
heroes. And songs were sung, poems recited, 
and branches of kinship were traced by an- 
nalists and never was there a merrier feast until 
Conchubar, the king, raised his voice and said: 
“I desire you to tell me: have you ever seen a 
better house than this house of Emain, or a better 
hearth than rr^ hearth in any place you have ever 
been?” 

“We have never seen better house nor hearth 
than that of Conchubar, the king,” they answered 
with one accord. 

“But can you not think of something that is 
wanting?” 

“We know of nothing from the loss of which 
we suffer” said they. “I do not think as you do.” 
said Conchubar. “I know of something that is 
wanting and that is the presence of the three best 


Geanan [Gan 'nan]. Ferceirtne [Far kart' nah]. 


DEIRDRE 


135 


candles of the Gael; the three noble sons of 
Usnach: Naoise, Ainnle and Ardan. No woman 
in the world should be able to keep them from us, 
they are sons of a king and they would defend the 
high kingship against the best men of Eire.” 

“We would have said that long ago, if we had 
dared.” said they. “These three alone could de- 
fend the province of Ulster, for they are lions of 
endurance and bravery.” 

“If that is so,” said Conchubar, “let us send a 
messenger to Alban to ask them to come back 
again.” 

“Whom will you send with the message?” 
asked they all together. 

“There is only one way to decide that,” said 
the king. “Naoise is under geasa not to return 
with any man but one of these three: Conall 
Cearnach, Fergus or Cuchulain; and now I will 
find out which of these three loves me best.” 

Then the king called Conall aside, and asked 
him: “What would you do with me if I should 
send you for the sons of Usnach, and they were 
destroyed by me — a thing I do not mean to do ?” 

“As I am not going to bring them,” said 
Conall, “I will say that any Ulster man who 


136 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


harmed the sons of Usnach would get shorten- 
ing of life and sorrow of death from me.” 

“I see well enough,” said Conchubar, “that you 
are no friend of mine.” 

Then he called Cuchulain to him and asked him 
the same that he had asked Conall. “I give you 
my word — as I am not going,” said Cuchulain, 
“that if the sons of Usnach were killed in Ulster, 
it is not to one person only, but to every Ulster- 
man I thought unfriendly to them, I would give 
shortening of life and the sorrow of death.” 

“I see, indeed,” said Conchubar, “that you are 
no friend of mine.” And he sent Cuchulain away. 

Fergus was the next to be called, and he was 
asked the same question as were the other two. 

“Whatever may happen,” answered Fergus, 
“your blood will never flow by my hand; but, if 
any other man should seek to harm the sons of 
Usnach, I hope it may be in my power to give 
him shortening of life and sorrow of death.” 

“I see it is you, Fergus, who must go for them,” 
said Conchubar, “and do not delay but set out by 
sunrise tomorrow. And when you return, I put 
you under geasa to let the fort of Borach, son 
of Cainte, be your first stopping place and as soon 

Borach [Bawr ' Sch]. Cainte [Kant ' yah]. 


DEIRDRE 


137 


as you arrive there, be it day or night, send on the 
sons of Usnach to Emain.” 

The king and Fergus went back to the com- 
pany together and Fergus told them that it was 
he who had been chosen by Conchubar to fetch 
the sons of Usnach back to Emain Macha. 

Then Conchubar went to Borach and told him 
to prepare a feast for Fergus on his return from 
Alban with the sons of Usnach. “And,” said 
Conchubar, “he is under geasa not to refuse to 
partake of your feast.” 

Fergus set out at sunrise the next morning, and 
he brought with him no guard nor helpers, but 
only his sons: Fair-Haired Iollan, Buinne Ruadh; 
and Cuillan, the shield-bearer, bringing with him 
his shield. 

They journeyed on until they reached the 
dwelling place of the sons of Usnach in Alban. 
They had three houses: The house where the 
food was prepared; the house where they ate; and 
the house where they slept. 

When Fergus came to the harbor of Loch 
Eitche he gave a great shout. Naoise and 
Deirdre were playing chess, and Naoise heard the 
shout and said to Deirdre : “That is the shout of 
a man from Eire.” 

Iollan [E'lan]. Buinne Ruadh [Bun 'yah Roo'ah]. 


138 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


“I think it is the cry of a man of Alban/' said 
Deirdre. 

A second shout from Fergus sounded from the 
harbor. “That is, indeed, the shout of a Gael 
from Eire,” said Naoise again. 

“It is not,” said Deirdre, “let us go on play- 
ing.” 

But a third shout was heard, and by that time 
the sons of Usnach knew that it was the shout of 
Fergus, and Naoise asked Ardan to go out and 
meet him. 

Then Deirdre told Naoise that she knew when 
she had heard the first shout who gave it. 

“Why did you not say so then, my queen?” 
said Naoise. 

“Because of a vision: Last night I saw three 
birds who came to us from Emain Macha with 
three drops of honey in their mouths. They left 
the honey with us and took away with them three 
drops of our blood.” 

“What is your interpretation of the vision, my 
queen?” 

“My interpretation is this: Fergus is coming 
from Conchubar with a message of peace for us, 
for honey is not sweeter than a message of peace 
sent from a false heart.” 


DEIRDRE 


139 


“Do not attach such importance to your vision, 
Deirdre,” said Naoise, “it signifies nothing but 
troubled sleep and gloomy thoughts. It is a long 
time since Fergus came into the harbor, go to 
meet him, Ardan, and bring him here at once.” 

So Ardan went to meet Fergus, and his two 
sons : “My love to you, dear comrades,” said he. 

“My fondest love to you Ardan,” said they. 

“And what news have you brought from 
Eire?” asked Ardan. 

“The best news I have for you” said Fergus, 
“is this: Conchubar, Ard Righ of Ulster, has 
sworn by the earth beneath him, by the heaven 
above him, and by the sun that travels to the west, 
that he will not rest by day nor sleep by night 
until the sons of Usnach come back to the coun- 
try of their birth ; and he has sent us to ask you 
there.” 

But when they had come to Naoise’s house 
and delivered their message to him, Deirdre said : 
“It is better for the sons of Usnach to remain 
here, for they have greater sway in Alban than 
Conchubar has in Eire.” 

“Even so,” said Fergus, “one’s own country is 
better than all things else; no pleasure is so great 
as that of living in your own home; and no sor- 


140 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


row can equal the sorrow of having to dwell in 
an alien land.” 

“That is true,” said Naoise, “Eire is dearer to 
me than Alban, though here I have greater riches 
and power than I had there.” 

So Naoise consented to return with Fergus, 
but it was greatly against Deirdre’s will that he 
did so. “Remain in Alban O Naoise, my hus- 
band! I know by my dream the sons of Usnach 
will meet only treachery from Conchubar.” 

“Lay down your dream, Deirdre, on the 
height of the hills, lay your dream on the sailors 
of the sea and the rough, grey rocks ; for in peace 
we will go and in peace we will be received by 
Conchubar of the Red Branch.” 

But Deirdre spoke again: “I see Conchubar 
merciless in his dun; I see Naoise without 
strength in battle ; I see Ainnle and Ardan with- 
out shield or breastplate; I see the falseness of 
Fergus; and Deirdre weeping, weeping bitterly!” 

“Do not be swayed by the dream of a woman,” 
said Fergus to Naoise, “Do not slight the friend- 
ship of the Ard Righ, but come at once to Ulster.” 

So Naoise consented to go, and Fergus 
promised him protection, if necessary against all 
the men of Eire. 


DEIRDRE 


141 


And when they were in their ships upon the 
sea, Deirdre looked back to Alban and said: 

“My love to you, O land to the east! 

It is with grief I leave your pleasant bays, your 
flowery plains and heathery hills. 

Dear to me is the land to the east, I would not have 
come away from it, but that I came with Naoise. 

Glen Masan, my grief! We were rocked to pleasant 
sleep over the wooded harbor of Masan! 

Glen Eitche, my grief! The home of the sun is Glen 
Eitche ! 

Glen-da-Rua, my grief! Sweet is the voice of the 
cuckoo on the bending branch of the hill above 
Glen-da-Rua ! 

Dear to me is Droighin, dear are its waters over the 
clean sands! 

I would never have come away from it but that I came 
with Naoise !” 


Droighin [Dri' yeen]. 


142 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


CHAPTER IV. 

It was not long until they reached Dun Borach, 
and Borach greeted them in the friendliest 
way, and told Fergus he had a feast prepared for 
him. And when Fergus said he could not delay 
for a feast but must hasten to Emain Macha, 
Borach said: “There are geasa on you Fergus 
not to leave Dun Borach until you have partaken 
of the feast. And it is Conchubar’s wish that you 
send the sons of Usnach ahead of you to Emain 
Macha/’ 

Fergus was very angry when he heard this: 
“You have done an evil thing, you and Conchu- 
bar, thus putting me under geasa,” said he; and, 
turning to Naoise, asked whether he should go 
or remain. 

Deirdre was the one to answer : “It should be 
easy for you to choose whether to refuse the feast 
or forsake the sons of Usnach.” 

“I will not forsake them,” said Fergus “for I 
will send my sons Iollan and Buinne with them.” 

“By my word,” said Naoise, “you speak as if 
we sought protection, but up to this time we have 
always protected ourselves and we shall do the 
same now.” 


DEIRDRE 


143 


Then Naoise and his brothers, and Deirdre, 
and the sons of Fergus went away, leaving 
Fergus with a sad heart at Dun Borach. 

Naoise and his companions journeyed on and 
when they were near Emain Macha, Deirdre 
said: “I will give you a sign by which you will 
know whether Conchubar is dealing fairly with 
you or not.” * 

“Tell me your sign, my queen,” said Naoise. 

“If Conchubar invites you into his own house 
where the nobles of Ulster are, then he will deal 
fairly with you ; but, if he sends you to the house 
of the Red Branch, then beware of treachery,” 
answered Deirdre. 

They soon arrived at Emain Macha, and 
Naoise took the hand- wood and struck the door. 
The doorkeeper asked who was there, and when 
they told him he brought word to Conchubar. 

Conchubar then called his stewards and serving 
men to him and asked them if the house of the 
Red Branch was well supplied with food and 
drink, and they replied that if the seven armies 
of Ulster should come there hungry and thirsty 
they would find plenty to satisfy them. 

“If that is so,” said Conchubar, “bring the sons 
of Usnach to the House of the Red Branch.” 


144 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


Then Deirdre said: “Let us return to Alban; 
even yet it is not too late.” 

But the sons of Usnach and the sons of Fergus 
said it would be a cowardly thing to return. So 
they went on to the House of the Red Branch, 
and with them went Conchubar’s stewards and 
serving men. And all except Deirdre and the 
sons of Usnach ate and drank and were glad and 
merry. 

Meanwhile Conchubar was seeking for some- 
one to bring him word whether Deirdre was as 
beautiful as she had been when he first saw her. 
“And if she is,” he said, “I will bring her to 
Emain Macha with edge of blade and point of 
spear; in spite of the sons of Usnach, however 
brave they may be.” 

“I will go to the House of the Red Branch,” 
said Levarcham, “and I will bring you word of 
Deirdre's appearance.” 

Levarcham loved Deirdre better than anyone 
else, and since the time when she had gone 
with Naoise to Alban, Levarcham had often 
visited her; bringing messages from Eire to 
Deirdre and from Deirdre to Eire. And she 
went now to the House of the Red Branch, and 
near it she saw a troop of strange, armed men; 


DEIRDRE 


145 


and she knew they must have been brought 
thither to aid Conchubar in battle. 

And when Levarcham found Naoise and Deir- 
dre they were playing chess and resting after 
their long journey from Alban. She greeted them 
fondly, and said: “You should not spend your 
time playing chess, there are greater things to be 
done. Conchubar has sent me to bring him word 
whether Deirdre is as beautiful as she used to 
be ; and great is my grief to think of the treacher- 
ous deeds which will be done in Emain tonight, 
to quench the three brightest candles of the Gael.” 

And Levarcham wept at parting with Naoise 
and his people and she went back to Conchubar 
and he asked her what tidings she had brought 
of Deirdre. 

“I have good news and bad news for you” said 
Levarcham. 

“Tell me both,” said Conchubar. 

“The best news is this: The sons of Usnach, 
the bravest and mightiest men of all the world, 
have come to you and beside them your kingdom 
will need no other defense. And the worst news 
is this : She who was the loveliest of women when 
she left Emain, has lost the beauty which she used 
to have.” 


146 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


At first Conchubar believed Levarcham, but 
after thinking the matter over he concluded to 
send another messenger ; and he sent Gelban, the 
son of the king of Lochlann, to bring him word 
concerning Deirdre. “For,” said he, “if she has 
the same appearance she used to have, there is 
not on the ridge of the earth nor the waves of the 
sea a more beautiful woman.” 

So Gelban went to the House of the Red 
Branch, and through an open window he saw 
Naoise and Deirdre, and near them was the chess 
board on which they had been playing. And as 
Gelban stood there Deirdre caught a glimpse of 
him and told Naoise someone was watching them 
through the window. And Naoise the moment 
he heard this threw a chessman, which he hap- 
pened to have in his hand, and put out one of Gel- 
ban’s eyes. 

Then Gelban went back, as best he could to 
Conchubar. “You were merry and pleasant go- 
ing away; but you are sad and cheerless coming 
back” said Conchubar to him. 

Then Gelban told his story, and Conchubar 
said: “The man who made that throw will be 
king of the world, unless his life is shortened. 
But tell me is Deirdre still beautiful?” 


DEIRDRE 


147 


“No woman could be more beautiful than Deir- 
dre,” said Gelban, “and, although Naoise put out 
one of my eyes, I would have stayed to look at 
her with the other, had you not bidden me hasten 
back again.” 

Gelban’s story filled Conchubar with envy, and 
he commanded the men of his army to take Deir- 
dre from the sons of Usnach. 

So they went to the House of the Red Branch 
and they gave three great shouts around it, and 
they put red flames of fire to it. And fierce was 
the fight between the sons of Usnach and their 
people, and Conchubar, and the men of Ulster. 
Buinne, the son of Fergus, fought with great 
valor until three fifths of the fighting men out- 
side fell by his hand. Then Conchubar sought 
out the man by whose hand so many of his heroes 
had fallen, and said to him : “I will make you a 
good gift if you will leave off fighting.” 

“What gift is that?” said Buinne. “ A hun- 
dred cantreds of land,” said Conchubar. 

“What beside?” said Buinne. 

“My own friendship and counsel,” said Con- 
chubar. 

“I will accept your gift,” said Buinne. 

It was a beautiful, fertile mountain which the 


148 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


king gave him but it turned barren that same 
night, and nothing green ever grew on it again, 
and it was called the Mountain of the Share of 
Buinne. 

And Conchubar’s son, Fiacra the fair, and 
Iollan met in the fight around the House of the 
Red Branch. And Fiacra carried Conchubar’s 
shield, the Ochain, and his two spears, and his 
sword, the Gorm Glas, and Iollan threw Fiacra 
down under his shield; and the shield roared, as 
it always did when the person who carried it was 
in danger. And the three waves of Eire, the 
Wave of Truagh, the Wave of Cliodna and the 
Wave of Rudraigh roared in answer to it. 

And Conchubar and the sons of Usnach met in 
the fight and Ainnle said to Conchubar: “Al- 
though we took white-handed Deirdre from you, 
we have done you many kindnesses at other 
times ; and now you should remember them. The 
day your ship full of silver and gold was going 
to wreck upon the sea, we gave you our own 
ship while we went swimming to the hafibor.” 

“No thanks do I give you for that,” said Con- 
chubar, “nor for fifty times that.” 

Then Ardan said: “We did another deed of 
kindness, and now is the time for you to remem- 

The Fews mountain in Armagh, as far as is known it has always been 
barren. Ochain [O ' kawn] : The Roarer. Gorm Glas [Gurm 

Glas] : The Blue Green. 


DEIRDRE 


149 


ber it. The day your speckled horse failed you 
on the green of Dundealgan we gave you our 
grey horse to bring you swiftly over the road/’ 

“No thanks do I give you for that, nor for fifty 
times that,” said Conchubar. 

And then Naoise said: “Now is the time for 
Conchubar, the king, to remember how the sons 
of Usnach came to his aid in the seven battles 
of Beinn Etair.” 

“For fifty times that service you should get 
no thanks now,” said Conchubar. 

And then more terrible became the fight, and 
the sons of Usnach linked their shields together 
around Deirdre, and they made three leaps over 
the walls of Emain, killing three hundred men. 

Conchubar was filled with fear when he saw 
this, so he went to Cathbad, the druid, and said 
to him: “Go, Cathbad, to the sons of Usnach, 
and work enchantment on them, or they will 
destroy the men of Ulster forever ; and I give you 
the word of a true hero that I do not seek to 
harm them, but only to make terms with them.” 

Cathbad believed the king, and he forthwith 
used all his arts and power to hinder the sons of 
Usnach. Through his enchantment the sem- 
blance of a dark sea rose around them, and they 


Dundealgan : Gaelic name of Dundalk. 


150 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


dropped their swords and attempted to swim with 
Deirdre through the boisterous billows. So it 
was that the sons of Usnach fell into the hands 
of Conchubar’s men. And it is too sorrowful 
to tell how Maine of the Rough-Hand, son of the 
king of Norway, when asked to do so by Con- 
chubar, slew the sons of Usnach with the sword 
which Mannanan MacLir had given to Naoise. 

As for Deirdre, they left her to herself. And 
she wept and tore her fair hair and throwing 
herself on the ground near the grave which they 
were digging for the sons of Usnach she lamented 
bitterly: 

“Long is the day without the sons of Usnach; 
three hawks of Slieve Cuilenn; three lions of the 
fort of Conrach ; three heroes not good at 
homage; their fall is a cause of sorrow! 

“Long is the day without the sons of Usnach : 
three pillars in the breach of battle ; three pupils 
that were with Scathach three dragons of Dun 
Monad; grief for the three brightest candles of 
the Gael! 

“My sight is gone from looking at the grave 
of Naoise; dig not the new grave narrow; I am 
Deirdre, the unhappy; I would lie in the grave 
with mighty Naoise.” 

Slieve [Schlev]: Mountain. Scathach [Skaw'haw]: Protection. 

Monad [Mo'nah]. 


DEIRDRE 


151 


After this caoin, Deirdre kissed the body of 
Naoise three times; and then she arose and fled 
through the night until she came to where waves 
were breaking on the strand of a little loch. And 
a fisherman and his wife saw her, and they 
brought her into their cabin and offered her food 
and drink. But she would not eat, nor drink, nor 
sleep; but, with her head upon her knees, she 
kept weeping for the sons of Usnach. 

And when Conchubar found that Deirdre was 
gone he sent Levarcham to look for her and bring 
her back to the palace, that he might make her 
his wife. 

Levarcham found her in the fisherman’s cabin 
and bade her return to Emain Macha, where she 
would have riches and protection and whatever 
she might desire. And Levarcham gave her this 
message from Conchubar: “Come up to my 
house, O beautiful branch, with the dark eye- 
lashes; come, and have no fear on your fair face 
of hatred, jealousy or reproach.” 

But Deirdre said, “I will not go up to his 
house, I do not desire gold nor silver, nor horses 
nor lands ; but only leave to lie in the grave with 
the sons of Usnach.” 

And again Deirdre lamented: 


Caoin [Keen] : A lament. 


152 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


“Delightful to Conchubar, the king, are pipes 
and trumpets; but the singing of the sons of 
Usnach was more delightful to me. 

“The deep sound of waves was in their sing- 
ing; dear were their pleasant words; dear their 
grey eyes searching the forest; and their steps 
were pleasant on the high, dark hill. 

“Do not break the strings of my heart, Con- 
chubar; though Naoise is dead my love’ is strong 
to live.” 

So Levarcham went back to tell Conchubar 
what Deirdre had said, and Deirdre went out on 
the strand of the little loch. The night was 
dark and her eyes were dim with weeping, and 
she walked into the water where it made a deep 
pool by the shore ; and the turbid waves brought 
her happiness as well as death, for she did not 
wish to live after Naoise. 

Conchubar, when he heard Deirdre’ s message 
from Levarcham, went down to the fisherman’s 
cabin bringing five hundred men with him. 
And they found Deirdre’s white, lifeless body 
on the strand. Then remorse and sorrow came 
to Conchubar because of the sad fate which 
through him had befallen the sons of Usnach 
and Deirdre. And they buried Deirdre near 


DEIRDRE 


153 


the sons of Usnach and they raised flagstones 
over their graves and on them wrote their 
names in Ogham. 

And Fergus, son of Rogh, on the day after 
the death of the sons of Usnach came to Emain 
Macha and, when he found out what deeds of 
treachery and terror had been done he, with 
Cormac Conloingeas, Conchubar's own son, and 
Duach, the Beetle of Ulster, made an attack 
on Conchubar’s house. And many of his men 
were killed and Emain Macha was destroyed 
by fire. 

After that Fergus and his men went into Con- 
nacht and took service with Ailell and Maeve at 
Cruachan. And that is how they came to fight 
with the men of Connacht in the war for the 
brown Bull of Cuailgne. 

Rogh [Roy]. Ailell [Awl'yeel] Cruachan [Crucawn']. Cul- 
aigne [Cool' yah]. 


Oisin s Tale of Tir-na-n-og 


CHAPTER I. 



SHORT time after the battle of 
Gavra, in which many of our heroes 
fell, and among them Carbri of the 
Liffey, king of Eire, we were hunt- 
ing on a dewy morning near the 
shore of Loch Lein. The trees and 
hedges near and far were fragrant with blos- 
soms, and birds sang in the branches. We soon 
raised the deer from the thickets, and as they 
bounded over the plain our hounds followed in 
full cry. 

But the hunt was not more than well begun 
before we saw a rider coming swiftly toward 
us from the west, and we soon thereafter per- 
ceived that it was a maiden on a white steed. 
She reined in, as she approached, and we all 
ceased from the chase on seeing her; for never 
before had Finn or the Feine beheld so lovely 
a maiden. A slender, golden diadem encircled 


Oisin [Aw' sheen]. Loch Lein: Correct Irish name of the present 
“Lakes of Killarney.” Finn: Chief of the Feine [Fay'nah] or 
national militia of Eire. The modern Fenian is derived from Feine. 


154 


OISIN IN TIR-NA-N-OG 


155 


her head, and she wore a brown robe of silk 
spangled with stars of red gold, which was 
fastened in front with a golden brooch; and fell 
from her shoulder until it swept the ground. 
Her yellow hair floated like a sunlit cloud about 
her. Her eyes were dear as drops of dew upon 
the grass, and blue as the blossoms of the wild 
ailestar. She sat more gracefully than the swan 
upon Loch Lein, holding her bridle with her 
small white hand and curbing her steed with a 
golden bit. Her white steed was covered with 
a smooth, flowing mantle; and shod with four 
shoes of pure, yellow gold. And in all Eire 
a better, or more beautiful, steed could not be 
found. 

As the maiden rode slowly into Finn’s pres- 
ence, he addressed her courteously in these 
words: “Who art thou, O lovely princess? Tell 
us thy name and the name of thy court and re- 
late to us the cause of thy coming.” 

She answered in a sweet and gentle voice: 
“Noble king of the Feine, I have had a long 
journey this day, for my country lies far off in 
the western sea. I am the daughter of the king 
of Tir-na-n-og and my name is Nia of the 
golden hair.” “And what is it that has caused 


156 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


thee to come so far across the sea? Has thy 
husband forsaken thee, or has some other evil 
befallen thee?” 

“My husband has not forsaken me, for I have 
never been married or betrothed to any man. 
I love thy 'noble son, Oisin, and that is why I 
have come to Eire. It is not without reason I 
have given him my love, and undertaken this 
long journey; for I have often heard of his 
bravery and gentleness, and his noble bearing. 
Many princes and high chiefs have sought me 
in marriage, but I never consented to wed, for 
my heart was indifferent to all men until it was 
moved with love for thy gentle son, Oisin.” 

“When I heard these words ; and when I 
looked on the lovely maiden, with her dew-bright 
eyes and glossy golden hair, I was all over in 
love with her. I went to her and taking her 
slender hand in mine, I told her she was a mild 
star of brightness and beauty; and that I pre- 
ferred her to all other princesses of all lands 
whatsoever, and would gladly make her my wife.” 

“Then,” said she, “I place you under geasa, 
which true heroes never break through, to come 
with me on my white steed to Tir-na-n-og, the 
land of never ending youth. It is the most de- 


OISIN IN TIR-NA-N-OG 


157 


lightful and the most renowned country under the 
sun. Gold and silver and jewels; and honey and 
wine are there in abundance, and the trees bear 
fruit and blossoms and green leaves at the same 
time all the year round. You will be given a 
hundred swords, and a hundred robes of silk 
and satin; a hundred swift steeds and a hundred 
slender hounds, of keenest scent. You will have, 
for your own, cows without number; and flocks 
of sheep with fleeces of gold; a coat of mail that 
cannot be pierced ; and a sword that never misses 
a stroke and from which no one ever escaped 
alive. There are feastings and harmless pastimes 
each day. Harpers shall delight you with their 
sweet music. A hundred warriors fully armed 
shall always await your call; and you may wear 
the diadem of the King of Tir-na-n-og. This 
diadem has never before been given to anyone 
under the sun, and it will guard you day and 
night in tumult, and battle, and danger of every 
kind. Lapse of time shall bring you neither 
decay nor death, and you shall be forever young 
and gifted with unfading beauty and strength. 
All these delights you shall enjoy, and many 
others that I do not mention; and I, myself, 


158 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


will be your wife if you come with me to Tir- 
na-n-og.” 

I replied that she was my choice above all the 
maidens in the world, and that I would willingly 
go with her to the land of youth. 

When my father and his champions heard me 
say this, and knew that I was going from them, 
they raised three shouts of lamentation and 
grief, and Finn came up to me and took my hand 
saying sadly: “Woe is me, my son, that you are 
going away from me, for I fear that you will 
never return !” 

His noble countenance was dimmed with sor- 
row; and, though I fully believed that I should 
see him again, I could not repress my tears as I 
kissed him farewell. 

I then took leave of my dear companions and 
mounted the white steed, while the lady kept her 
seat before me. She gave the signal and the 
steed galloped swiftly and smoothly toward the 
west, until he reached the strand, and when his 
gold-'shod hoofs touched the waves he shook 
himself and neighed three times. He made no 
delay but plunged forward at once, moving over 
the face of the sea with the speed. of a cloud 
shadow on a March day. The wind overtook 


OISIN IN TIR-NA-N-OG 


159 


the waves, and we overtook the wind so that 
we straightway lost sight of land ; and saw noth- 
ing but billows tumbling before us and billows 
tumbling behind us. 


160 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


CHAPTER II. 

But after a while other shores came into view, 
and we saw many wonderful things on our jour- 
ney: islands and cities we saw; lime white man- 
sions and bright grianans, and lofty palaces. A 
hornless fawn once crossed our course, bounding 
nimbly from the crest of one wave to the crest 
of another, and close after her in full chase was 
a white hound with red ears. We saw also a 
lovely young maiden mounted on a brown steed, 
with a golden apple in her hand. She passed 
swiftly by, and a young warrior on a white 
steed plunged after her. This warrior wore a 
long, flowing mantle of yellow silk; and held in 
his hand a gold-hilted sword. I understood 
none of these things and, wondering greatly, 
I asked the princess what they signified. 

She answered: “Heed not what you see here, 
Oisin, for all this is as nothing compared with 
what you shall see in Tir-na-n-og.” 

At last we saw at a great distance a palace, 
more splendid than all the others, rising over 
the waves on the very verge of the sea. As we 
drew near its front gleamed and glittered like 
the morning sun. I asked the lady what royal 

Grianans [Gree ' ah nans] : Sun-bowers ; summer pavilions. 


OISIN IN TIR-NA-N-OG 


161 


house this was, and who was the prince that 
ruled over it. 

“ This country is the land of Virtues/ ” she 
replied. “ ‘Its king is the great Fomor of the 
Blows, and its queen the daughter of the land 
of Life. This Fomor brought the lady away by 
force from her own country, and keeps her a 
prisoner in his palace. But she has put him 
under geasa, that he cannot break through, never 
to ask her to marry him, until she can find a 
champion to fight him in single combat. But 
as yet no hero has come hither courageous 
enough to meet the giant and rescue the lady 
from bondage/ ” 

A blessing on you, golden haired Nia, I re- 
plied, I have never heard music sweeter than 
your voice; and, although I feel pity for the 
princess, your story is pleasant for me to hear; 
and, moreover, I will go to the palace and try 
to overcome the Fomor in single combat and 
thus free the lady. 

So we came to land, and as we drew nigh to 
the palace, the lovely young queen met us and 
bade us welcome. 

She led us in and seated us on chairs of gold. 
Choice food was placed before us, and drinking 


162 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


horns, and methers of mead, and golden goblets 
of sweet wine were offered us. When we had 
eaten and drunk, the mild, young princess told 
us her story; while tears welled out of her soft, 
dark eyes. She ended by saying ; “ 'Alas, I can 
never return to my own country and to my 
father’s house as long as this great and cruel 
giant is alive.’ ” 

When I heard her sad words, and saw her 
tears falling, my heart was again filled with a 
desire to aid her; and bidding her cease griev- 
ing, I gave her my hand as a pledge that I would 
meet the giant and either slay him or fall myself 
in her defence. 

While we were yet speaking, we saw the giant 
coming toward the palace, carrying a load of 
deer skin on his back; and holding a great iron 
club in his hand. He was large of body and ugly 
and hateful in appearance. When he saw us he 
threw down his load and turned a surly look 
on the princess; then, without greeting us, or 
showing the least mark of courtesy, he challenged 
me to battle in a loud, rough voice. 

It was not my wont to be dismayed by a call 
to arms or to be terrified by the sight of an 
enemy; and so I went forth at once without the 


OISIN IN TIR-NA-N-OG 


163 


least fear. But although I had fought many bat- 
tles in Eire against wild boars, and enchanters 
and foreign invaders, never before did I find it 
so hard to preserve my life. We fought for three 
days and three nights without food or drink or 
sleep, for the giant gave me not a moment for 
rest; and, neither did I at any time allow him 
to desist from the fray. 

At length when I beheld the two princesses 
weeping in great fear, and when I called to mind 
my father’s deeds in battle, a furious valor arose 
within me and with a sudden onset I felled the 
giant to the earth and, instantly, before he could 
recover from the blow I gave him, I cut off his 
head. 

When the maidens saw the monster lying dead 
upon the ground, they uttered three cries of joy 
and they came to me and led me into the palace. 

I was covered with gory wounds and a sudden 
dizziness of brain and feebleness of body siezed 
me. But the daughter of the king of the land 
of Life applied precious balsam and healing 
herbs, to my wounds; and in a short time I was 
healed and my cheerfulness of mind returned. 

Then I buried the giant in a deep and wide 
grave, and I raised a great cairn over him and 


164 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


placed on it a stone with his name engraved in 
Ogham. 

We rested that night, and at the dawn of the 
next day Nia said to me that it was time for us 
to resume our journey to Tir-na-n-og. So we 
took leave of the daughter of the king of the 
land of Life. Although the princess was joy- 
ful when she thought of her release from the 
cruel giant, she wept at our departure, and we 
were not less sorry to bid her farewell. 

When we had again mounted the white steed, 
he galloped toward the strand; and, as soon as 
his hoofs touched the waves, he shook himself and 
neighed three times. We plunged forward over 
the clear, green sea, with the speed of a March 
wind on a hillside, and soon we saw nothing but 
billows tumbling before us, and billows tum- 
bling behind us. And once again we saw the 
fawn chased by the white hound with red ears, 
and the maiden with the golden apple passed 
swiftly by, followed by the young warrior in 
yellow, silken robe; mounted on his white steed. 
And, as before, we passed many strange islands 
and white palaces. 

Dark clouds now hid the sky from view. A 
storm arose, and the sea was illumined by con- 


OISIN IN TIR-NA-N-OG 


165 


stant flashes of lightning. But though the winds 
blew up from every point of the heavens, and the 
waves towered and roared around us, the white 
steed kept his course straight on, moving calmly 
and swiftly as before, through the foam and 
blinding spray. 

He was not delayed or disturbed in the least, 
and he did not turn to the right nor to the left. 


166 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


CHAPTER III. 

When at length the storm abated and the sun 
again shone brightly, I looked around and saw 
a country, near at hand, all green and full of 
flowers; with beautiful smooth plains, purple 
hills, and bright lakes and water falls. Not far 
from the shore stood a palace of surprising 
beauty and splendor. It was everywhere adorned 
with gold and gems of every color: blue, green, 
crimson and yellow; and on either side were 
grianans, shining with precious stones, and built 
by artists the most skillful that could be found. 
I asked Nia the name of that delightful country, 
and she answered me : “This is my native coun- 
try, Tir-na-n-og, and there is nothing I have 
promised which you will not find in it.” 

As soon as we reached the shore we dis- 
mounted, and as we did so we saw advancing 
from the palace a troop of noble warriors, all 
clad in bright garments who came forth to meet 
and welcome us. Following these were a stately 
glittering host with the king at their head, wear- 
ing a robe of bright yellow satin, and a crown 
that sparkled with gold and diamonds. The 
queen came after attended by a hundred lovely 


OISIN IN TIR-NA-N-OG 


167 


young maidens. And in all the world could not 
be found a king and queen who could excel these 
in beauty and gracefulness and majesty. 

After they had kissed their daughter the king 
took my hand and said aloud in the hearing of 
the host: “This is Oisin, son of Finn, for whom 
my daughter Nia traveled over the sea to Eire. 
This is Oisin who is to be the husband of Nia 
of the golden hair. We give you a hundred 
thousand welcomes brave Oisin. You will be 
forever young in this land. All kinds of de- 
lights and innocent pleasures are awaiting you, 
and my daughter shall be your wife, for I am 
king of Tir-na-n-og.” 

I thanked the king with all my heart, and I 
bowed low to the queen after which we went into 
the palace, and there we found a banquet pre- 
pared. 

The feasting and rejoicing lasted for ten days, 
and on the last day I was wedded to gentle Nia 
of the golden hair. 

I lived in the land of youth more than three 
hundred years, but at the end of that time it 
seemed to me as if only three years had passed 
since the day I parted from my friends. 


168 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


Nevertheless, I began to have a longing to 
see my father, Finn, and my old companions. 

So I asked leave of Nia and of the king to 
visit Eire. The king gave permission; and Nia 
said: “I will give consent; though, my heart is 
sorrowful, for I fear you will never return to 
me.” I replied that I would surely return and 
that she need not feel any doubt or dread; for 
the white steed would bring me back in safety. 
Then she spoke these words; and they seemed 
very strange to me: 

“I will not refuse this request, though the 
thought of your journey afflicts me with great 
grief and fear. Eire is not now as it was when 
you left it. The great king Finn and the war- 
rior Feine are all gone and you will find instead 
an army of champions who do battle, not with 
sword and plunder ; but, with deeds of mercy and 
kindness, whose laws are of forgiveness not re- 
venge, and whose king is the Tailkenn, the lord 
of a country where the high places are accorded 
to the meek and lowly, not to the proud and 
powerful. 

“Now think well on what I say to you and 
keep my words in your mind : If even once you 
alight from the steed, you can never come back 


OISIN IN TIR-NA-N-OG 


169 


to me. Again I warn you: If you place your 
feet on the green sod of Eire, you will never re- 
turn to this lovely land. A third time, Oisin, 
my beloved husband, a third time I say to you: 
If you alight from the white steed you will never 
see me again !” 

I promised that I would faithfully remember 
every word she had spoken to me, and that on 
no account would I alight from the white steed. 
Then, as I looked into her gentle face and marked 
her grief, my heart was weighed down with sad- 
ness, and I could not restrain my tears. But 
even so, my mind was bent on coming back to 
Eire. 


170 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


CHAPTER IV. 

When I had mounted the white steed, he gal- 
loped directly toward the shore. We moved 
swiftly as before over the clear, green sea. The 
wind overtook the waves, and we overtook the 
wind, so that we straightway left the land of 
youth far behind us. 

And as before we passed many islands and 
cities, until at length we landed on the beautiful 
shores of Eire. 

As I traveled through the country I scarcely 
recognized the old places for everything was 
strangely altered. Nowhere was there any sign 
of Finn and his host. I began to fear that Nia’s 
words were true. 

At length, I espied in the distance a company 
of little men and women all mounted on little 
horses, and when I came near they greeted me 
kindly and courteously. They looked at me with 
wonder and curiosity, and marveled much at my 
great size, and the beauty and majesty of my 
person. I asked them about Finn and the Feine 
warriors: if any of them were still living; or, if 
any sudden disaster had swept them away. 

And one replied: “We have heard of the hero 


OISIN IN TIR-NA-N-OG 


171 


who, three times three generations ago, ruled in 
Eire; and who never had an equal for bravery 
and wisdom. The poets of the Gael have sung 
his deeds and the deeds of the Feine, and it is 
related in their songs that Finn had a son named 
Oisin. And the poets tell that Oisin, when he 
had reached the height of manly beauty and 
valour, went away with a young, fairy maiden 
to Tir-na-n-og; and his father and his friends 
sorrowed greatly for him; and sought him long 
and in many places. But he was never seen 
again.” 

When I heard all this, I was filled with 
amazement; and my heart grew heavy with sor- 
row. I silently turned my steed from the won- 
dering people and straightway set out for Alvin 
of the green hill slopes. As I journeyed along 
I could not free my mind from forebodings of 
further sorrows awaiting me. When I reached 
Alvin I found my fears were justified; for I found 
the hill deserted and lonely, and my father's 
palace in ruins and overgrown with grass and 
weeds. 

Slowly and sadly I turned my face from the 
home of my childhood, and fared through the 
land in every direction in search of my friends. 

The Gael: The race at present called Irish. Gaelic: The language of 
the inhabitants of Ireland. The Gaels of Ireland are the oldest 
branch of the Aryan race. Eirinn [Ar'yan]: Genitive of Eire; a 
native of Eire. Alvin [Awl'lyn]: Headquarters of the Feine of 
Leinster. Chief residence of Finn in Kildare. 


172 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


But I met only crowds of little people who re- 
garded me with wonder. Nowhere did I meet 
anyone who knew me or whom I knew. I visited 
all the old time haunts of the Feine; but, like 
Alvin, they were all solitary and in ruins. 

Finally I came to Glenasmole where the beau- 
tiful Dodder flows ; and where many a time I had 
hunted with the Feine. There I saw a crowd 
of people in the glen. As I approached one of 
them came forward and said to me: “Come to 
us, thou mighty hero, and help us out of our 
strait for thou art a man of vast strength.” 

I went to them and found a number of men 
trying to raise a large, flat stone. It was half 
lifted from the ground. But those who were 
under it were not strong enough either to raise 
it further or to free themselves from its weight. 
And they were in great distress, and on the point 
of being crushed to death. 

I thought it a shameful thing that so many 
men should be unable to lift this stone which 
Oscar, if he were alive, would take in his right 
hand and fling over the heads of the feeble 
crowd. After I had watched them for a little 
while, I stooped forward and seized the flag with 
one hand, and putting forth my strength, I flung 

Glenasmole : The glen of the thrush. Dodder : small stream flowing 

through Wicklow and Dublin. Oscar [Us' kar] : Son of Oisin. 


OISIN IN TIR-NA-N-OG 


173 


it seven perches from its place, and relieved the 
little men. But my action put great strain on 
the golden saddle girth of the white steed under 
me, and bounding forward to keep myself from 
falling I suddenly came to the ground on my two 
feet. 

The moment the steed felt himself free, he 
shook himself and neighed three times. Then, 
starting off with the speed of a cloud shadow on 
a March day, he left me standing helpless and 
sorrowful. Instantly a woeful change came over 
me. The sight of my eyes began to fade; the 
ruddy beauty of my face vanished; my strength 
left me and I fell to the earth, a withered old 
man, blind, wrinkled and feeble. 

The white steed was never seen again. I 
never recovered my sight, my strength, or my 
youth, but have lived sorrowing for my gentle, 
golden haired Nia, and thinking back to Finn, 
my father, and the companions of my youth all 
lost to me now, yet hoping that sometime, some- 
where I shall meet them again. 


The Pursuit of the Gilla Dacker 


CHAPTER I. 



N La Baal Tinne, the feast of the 
coming of good weather, Finn, the 
son of Cumal, feasted the Feine and 
the chief people of Eire at Allen of 
the Green Hill Slopes. And when the feast was 
over the Feine reminded Finn that it was time to 
begin the chase through the plains and glens and 
wildernesses of Eire. During the first half of 
the year, that is from La Baal Tinne until La 
Samnah, the feast of the close of good weather, 
the Feine were accustomed to spend their time 
in hunting; and during the second half of the 
year, from La Samnah until La Baal Tinne, they 
lived in the mansions and in the betas, or houses 
of hospitality of Eire. 

And this time when the Baal Tinne feast was 
over, Finn and his chiefs chose the province of 
Munster for the first chase; and they set out 
with dogs and men and traveled through Offaly, 
and by the twelve mountains of Evlinn, until 


Gilla: Servant. Dacker [Dyak ' er] : Troublesome. Cumal [Cool]. 
Finn: Same as in preceding story. Allen: Same as Alvin. La 
Samnah [Law Sow'nah]: The first day of November. La Baal 
Tinne: The first day of May ; Day of the Baal fire. Offaly [O fahl' 
yah]: District comprising portions of Queen’s County and Kildare. 
174 



PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 175 

they came to Knockainey; and they pitched their 
tents on a level spot near its summit. Then the 
chase was set in order and the hunters scattered 
themselves over the broad plains of Munster. 
They hunted over Keen Avrat of Sleive Keen, 
and over Coil Na Drua; and, through the forest 
fastnesses of the patrimony of Curoi MacDara 
their fleet hounds followed the deer. By the 
shores of Loch Lein, and along the blue-waved 
Suir full many a quarry fell before them; and 
ever with keener zest they fared onward, feast- 
ing and singing by day; resting by night on 
fragrant beds of fern and fir until they crossed 
the speckled summit of Slieve-na-man. 

But Finn, after a short chase over the plains 
of Cliach, went back to rest on the hill of 
Knockainey. With him was his son Oisin, Gaul 
MacMorna of the Mighty Deeds, Finn's shield- 
bearer, Skeabrac, Conan Mael and Ban Mac 
Breasal. The sounds of the hunt came back to 
Finn and his companions on the hill of Knock- 
ainey, borne across the broad plains of Cliach; 
and they listened with pleasure to the cheers and 
shouts, the whistling and signaling of the mighty 
heroes and to the cries of the sharp-nosed 


Coil na Drua [Wood of the Druids], Curoi Mac Dara : a contempo- 
rary of Cuchulain. Slieve-na-man : Mountain of the woman. 
Conan Mael [Kaw nawn' Mwal], 


176 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


dogs, as they routed the deer from their coverts 
and the badgers from their burrows. 

Then said Finn to Ban MacBreasal: “Thou 
wast ever a skillful champion and a shrewd ; un- 
wearied in war or in the chase. Go, I pray thee, 
to the highest point of this hill whose summit 
shadows us and from there note narrowly the 
progress of the chase, and watch for the safety 
of the hunters, for I fear the Druidical spells of 
the Dedannan.” 

As Ban MacBreasal stood on the high hilltop, 
grasping his broad spears, and scanning the four 
points of the sky, he saw a Fomor of great size 
coming toward the hill leading a horse. This 
Fomor was the ugliest looking giant Ban Mac- 
Breasal had ever seen. His bloated body was 
supported on clumsy, crooked legs and broad, 
flat feet turned inward. His face was covered 
with bushy hair and his thick lips opened over 
long, crooked teeth. With his head poked for- 
ward, and his face turned up, he stared straight 
at Ban MacBreasal. A broad shield of a sooty 
hue, rough and battered, hung over his back. 
At his left hip was a long, heavy, straight sword; 
and in his left hand two thick-handled, broad- 
headed spears, old and rusty as if they had not 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 177 

been used for years. In his right hand he held 
an iron club, which he dragged after him upon 
the ground; and as it trailed along it tore up a 
track as deep as the furrow a farmer plows with 
a yoke of oxen. 

The giant’s horse was even larger in propor- 
tion than the giant himself, and every bit as 
ugly. His tangled, scraggy hair was of a dingy 
black; and his ribs and all the points of his big 
bones could be counted through his hide. His 
legs were crooked and knotty, his neck twisted; 
and his jaws so long and heavy that they made 
his head look twice as large as it should for his 
body. The giant held him by a strong halter and 
seemed to pull him forward by main force. 
Every now and then the lazy beast stood still 
and, when he did so, the giant struck him on the 
ribs with his iron club ; and the blow sounded as 
loud as the thundering of a great billow against 
the rough rocks of the sea coast. 

Ban MacBreasal was not a man to be easily 
frightened, but, when he saw the giant and his 
horse coming toward him, he sprang from his 
seat and, snatching up his arms, ran down the 
hill slope with his utmost speed to the place 
where he had left the king and his companions. 


178 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


He found them sitting around a chess board, 
deep in a game. When they saw Ban Mac- 
Breasal’s frightened mien, they started to their 
feet and, looking in the direction that he pointed, 
they saw the big Fomor leading his ungainly 
horse slowly up the hill. They gazed in silent 
wonder until at last he approached them; and, 
bowing his head and bending his knee, saluted 
the king. Finn returned his salute and after 
giving him leave to speak, asked him to tell his 
name and from which of the three divisions of 
the world he had come; and, whether he be- 
longed to the noble or the ignoble races. The 
king also asked what was his profession or craft 
and why he had no servant to attend to his horse. 
“If indeed,” said Finn, “such an ugly old spectre 
of an animal can by courtesy be called a horse.” 

The big man answered him: “O King of the 
Feine, whether I come of a noble or an ignoble 
race I cannot tell, for I know not who were my 
father and my mother. As to where I came 
from; I am a Fomor of Lochlann in the north. 
I have no particular dwelling place, but travel 
about from one country to another, serving the 
great lords and nobles of the world ; and, receiv- 
ing wages for my services. I have often heard, 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


179 


O King, of your greatness and royal bounty, 
and I have come to ask you to take me into your 
service for a year. You wish to know why I 
have no servant for this great horse of mine? 
It is because it is enough to provide for me with- 
out having also to feed my servant ; for, at every 
meal I eat, my master must give me as much food 
and drink as would be sufficient for an hundred 
men. My name is the Gilla Dacker, and it is not 
without good reason that I am so called, for there 
never was a lazier or worse servant than I, or 
one who grumbles more at doing a day’s work 
for his master.” 

“Well,” said Finn, “I fear you are not a very 
pleasant fellow, but as I have never refused any 
man service, and wages, I will not refuse you.” 
Whereupon Finn and the Gilla Dacker made 
covenants and the Gilla Dacker was taken into 
service for one year. 

“I see no one here worthy to put a hand to 
my horse,” said the Gilla Dacker after the agree- 
ment between Finn and himself was completed, 
“so I will myself place him among your horses 
for pasture. I value him very highly and it 
would grieve me very much should any harm 
befall him.” Then turning to the King, he said: 


130 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


“I put him under your protection, O King, and 
under the protection of all the Feine. 

Everyone of the Feine present burst out laugh- 
ing to hear the Gilla Dacker thus showing con- 
cern for his miserable, old skeleton of a horse. 
The big man, however, gave no heed to their 
merriment; but, taking the halter off his horse’s 
head, turned him loose in the pasture. The 
wretched looking old animal, instead of begin- 
ning to graze as every one thought he would, 
cocked his long, hard, switchy tail out straight 
as a rod, and running among the other horses 
threw up his hind legs and kicked about on this 
side and on that. He tore through the thickest 
of the herd, butting at them with his hard, bony 
forehead; and, opening his lips with a vicious 
grin, snapped at the Feme’s high bred horses with 
his sharp, crooked teeth; nor did he desist until 
every animal in the herd bore some mark of his 
injuries. At last he left them and ran toward a 
small field where Conan Mael’s horses were graz- 
ing by themselves. Conan seeing this shouted 
in great alarm to the Gilla Dacker to fetch away 
his horse, and not let him work any more mischief. 

“The only way to prevent my horse from join- 
ing the others is to put the halter on him and 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


181 


hold him,” said the Gilla Dacker. “This will 
keep the poor beast from grazing and leave him 
hungry at the end of the day; but,” said he to 
Conan, “there is the halter and if you are in any 
fear for your animals, go yourself and fetch 
my horse from the field.” 

Conan was in a mighty rage when he heard 
this ; and, just as the big horse was about to cross 
the fence into the small field, he snatched up the 
halter and running forward with long strides 
threw it over the animal's head and tried to lead 
him back. But the horse refused to move. His 
body and legs became as stiff as if they were 
made of wood; and, though Conan pulled and 
tugged with might and main, he was not able to 
stir the beast an inch from his place. The Gilla 
Dacker looked on in a perfectly indifferent man- 
ner, and the others laughed at Conan’s perplex- 
ity, but no one offered to relieve him. At last 
Fergus, the poet, said “I never would have be- 
lieved, Conan Mael, that you could be brought 
to do horse service for knight or noble, in all the 
world. But now indeed I see you have made 
yourself horse-boy to an odious, foreign giant! 
Would it not be better for you, if indeed you must 
so debase yourself, to mount the old horse, and 


182 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


obtain revenge for all the trouble he is giving by 
riding him across the country, over the hill tops 
and down into the deep glens and valleys, and 
through stones and bogs and all sorts of rough 
places, until you have broken the heart in his 
big, ugly body?” 

Conan, stung by the words of the poet and the 
jeers of his companions, jumped upon the horse’s 
back and began to beat him mightily with his 
heels, and with his two big, heavy fists. But the 
horse seemed not to take the least notice, and 
stood as if he had been turned into stone. 

“I know the reason he does not go,” said 
Fergus, “he has been accustomed to carry a 
horseman far heavier than you, that is to say; 
the Gilla Dacker, and he will not move until he 
has the same weight on his back as heretofore.” 
So Conan called to his companions and asked 
which of them would mount with him, and help 
avenge the damage done to their horses. 

“I will go,” said Coil Croda, the Battle 
Victor, and up he went; but the horse did not 
move.’ Dara MacMorna next offered to go, and 
mounted behind the others; and, after him went 
Angus MacMorna; and the end of it was that 
fourteen men of the clans Baskin and Morna 


Morna [Morn 'yah]. 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


183 


got on the horse’s sharp, bony back and each one 
added to the thrashing begun by Conan Mael. 
When the Gilla Dacker saw the Feine beating 
his horse at such a rate he seemed very angry, 
and addressed the King in these words: “I now 
see very plainly that all the fine accounts which 
I have heard of you and the Feine, O Finn Mac- 
Cumal, are false and I will not stay in your serv- 
ice — no, not another hour. Judge for yourself 
whether any one with the least regard for his 
beast would allow such ill usage as your men are 
giving my horse, and indeed without any cause 
whatever. Though short the time since I en- 
tered your service, I consider it far too long; so 
pay me my wages and let me go my way.” 

But Finn refused to pay him until the end of 
the year. 

“Well, wages, or no wages, I will now seek 
another master,” said the Gilla Dacker, and he 
stood up as straight as a pillar and, turning his 
face toward the southwest, he walked slowly 
away. 

The horse immediately followed his master 
taking the fifteen men away on his back. When 
the Feine saw this they raised a loud shout of 
laughter, mocking them. The Gilla Dacker, 


184 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


after he had walked some little distance, looked 
back to see how it fared with his horse. Then 
he tucked up his skirts. And if you know what 
the speed of a swallow is flying across a moun- 
tain side; or, the dry, fairy wind of a March 
day sweeping over the plains, you can imagine 
the swiftness of the Gilla Dacker, as he ran down 
the hillside toward the southwest. And the 
horse, although he carried a heavy load, galloped 
after his master, plunging and bounding for- 
ward as if he had nothing at all on his back. 
The men now tried to throw themselves off but 
could not, for they found that they were firmly 
fastened on the horse’s back. Conan looked back 
and shouted to Finn and the Feine, asking them 
if they were content to see their friends carried 
off by such a horrible, old, spectre of an animal. 

Finn and the others hearing this started in 
pursuit of the Gilla Dacker; and away they all 
went over the wide, heathy summit of Slieve 
Luachra; and from there to Corea Divna. And 
they ran along by Slieve Mish until they reached 
Clogan Kincat, near the deep, green sea. 

It was not until the horse had reached the 
beach, just at the water’s edge, that Ligan 
Lumina, who had kept ahead of the other pur- 

Luachra [Loch'ra]. Cloghan [Cl5k hawn']: Causeway. Cloghan 
Kincat: Cat-head stepping stones. 

Ligan: Jetsam; goods which sink when cast into the sea and remain 
under water. 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


185 


suers, succeeded in catching him by the tail with 
his two hands. Ligan pulled with all his might 
thinking to hold the horse until the rest of the 
Feme should arrive. But his pulling was of no 
avail for the horse plunged through the waves 
dragging Ligan after him, thus making it im- 
possible for him to either help his friends or free 
himself, as his hands clung fast to the tail of the 
horse. 


186 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


CHAPTER II. 

The great horse continued his course through 
the sea, fetching the sixteen Feine with him, and 
the waters retired before them leaving a dry, 
firm strand under them; while behind them fol- 
lowed close a wild, raging, sea, which seemed 
ready at any moment to topple over their heads. 

But although the billows were tumbling and 
roaring all around them neither horse nor riders 
were wet by so much as a drop of brine or a dash 
of spray. Finn and the others, left behind on 
Knockainey, watched the horse and men until 
they lost sight of them in the sea. 

After a long silence Finn spoke and asked the 
chiefs what they thought best to do. But they 
replied that he far excelled them in all knowledge 
and wisdom; and they told him they would fol- 
low whatever counsel he and Fergus, the poet, 
should see fit to give. Then Finn told Fergus 
to speak his mind, and Fergus said: “My counsel 
is that we go straightway to Ben Edar, where 
we will find a ship waiting ready to sail ; for our 
forefathers, when they wrested the land from 
the Dedannans, bound them by covenant to main- 
tain this ship forever fitted with all things need- 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 187 

ful for a voyage. They were to do this in return 
for the privileges of Ben Edar ; and in order that 
if, at any time, one of the noble sons of Gael 
Glas wished to sail to distant lands from Eire, 
there would be a ship lying at hand in the har- 
bor ready for his voyage. 

They all agreed to this counsel, and without 
delay turned their steps northward toward Ben 
Edar. They had not gone far when they met 
two youths of noble mien, fully armed ; and wear- 
ing over their armor beautiful mantles of scarlet 
silk fastened with brooches of gold. After the 
king had returned their salute and had given 
them leave to converse, he asked who they were ; 
whither they had come; and, who the prince or 
chief was that they served. Then the elder 
answered: “My name is Feradach, and my 
brother’s name is Foltlebar; and we are the two 
sons of the king of Innia. Each of us professes 
an art, and it has long been a point of dispute 
between us which art is the better, my brother’s 
or mine. We have heard there is not in the world 
a wiser man than thou, O King, and we have 
come to ask thee to take us into thy service, 
among thy household troops for a year; and at 
the end of that time to give judgment between 


Innia: India. 


188 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


us in the matter.” Finn then asked what were 
the two arts they professed. 

“My art,” answered Feradach, “is this: If 
at any time a company of warriors need a ship, 
give me only my joiner’s ax, and my crann-tavall 
and I am able to provide it without delay. All 
I ask them to do is this: cover their heads close 
and keep them covered while I give the crann- 
tavall three blows of my ax. Then I tell them 
to uncover their heads, and lo, there lies the 
ship in the harbor ready to sail.” 

Then Foltlebar spoke and said he: 

“This, O King, is the art I profess: On land 
I can track the wild duck over nine ridges and 
nine glens and never lose track of her until I 
drop upon her in her nest; and, on sea my skill 
is to follow the same, if only I have a good ship 
and crew.” 

“You are the very men I want,” said Finn, 
and he told them the story of the Gilla Dacker 
and his horse from beginning to end. “And,” 
he added, “we are now on our way to Ben Edar 
to seek a ship, so that we may follow this giant 
and his horse and rescue our companions.” 

“I will get you a ship that will sail as swiftly 
as a swallow can fly,” said Feradach. “And,” 


Crann-tavall [thowl]: Wooden fulcrum for the oar in rowing. 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


189 


said Foltlebar, “I will guide your ship in the 
track of the Gilla Dacker until you shall have 
laid hands on him, in whatsoever part of the 
world he may seek to hide himself.” Forthwith 
they returned to the beach of Cloghan Kincat 
and they covered their heads while Feradach 
struck three blows of his ax on the crann-tavall. 
And lo, when he bade them look, they saw a 
ship fully fitted out with oars and sails, and with 
all things needful for a long voyage riding be- 
fore them in the harbor. Then Kylta MacRonan 
went to the top of a high hill, and turning his 
face inland gave three mighty shouts, which 
were taken up by the people of the next valley, 
and after them by those of the next valley be- 
yond. And thus was the signal given in every 
glen and valley and on every plain and hillside 
of the two provinces of Munster. 

When the Feine heard these shouts, they ceased 
their sports for they knew their King was in 
danger. And they formed themselves into ranks, 
and troops, and battalions and began a march 
toward Cloghan Kincat. After they arrived, 
Finn told them the story of the Gilla Dacker’s 
flight through the sea; and he picked out fifteen 
men: the bravest and best; the most dexterous, 


190 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


and the swiftest of foot among the Feine, to ac- 
company him in the quest for their friends which 
he was about to undertake in the ship provided 
by Feradach. 

Among those chosen to go with Finn, the chief 
men were Dyna, of the Bright Face; Gaul Mac- 
Morna; Fergus, the Poet; and, Feradach and 
Foltlebar. Sad indeed was the leave-taking 
when they sailed away ; for no one knew how far 
the king might have to go through unknown 
seas, or what spells and dangers he and his men 
might have to encounter in this pursuit. 

After a few days fair sailing on the cold, 
bright sea, a great storm came from the west 
and the black waves rose up against them, so 
that they had much ado to keep their vessel from 
sinking. But through the roaring of the tempest ; 
through rain and blinding spray, Foltlebar, their 
steersman, never stirred from the helm, or 
changed his course; but kept close on the track 
of the Gilla Dacker. 

At length the storm abated and the sea grew 
calm; and when the darkness had cleared away 
the ship’s crew as they looked off to the west 
saw not far away a vast, rocky cliff, towering 
over their heads to such a height that its top 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


191 


was hidden in the drifting clouds of the upper 
air. It rose up sheer from the very water; and 
in the distance appeared to be as smooth as glass. 
Foltlebar, after looking to the four points of the 
sky, could track the Gilla Dacker as far as the 
cliffs, but no farther. So he told the heroes 
that he thought it was on the top of that rock 
the giant lived, and that in some way or other 
the horse must have made its way up the face 
of the cliff with their unfortunate companions. 

The words of Foltlebar filled the heroes’ hearts 
with sorrow and vexation, for they saw no way 
of reaching the top of the rock, and feared that 
they would have to give up the quest and return 
to Cloghan Kincat. 

When they had spent some time In silent 
thought, Fergus, the poet, arose and said: “My 
friends, we have here among us one who in his 
youth was taught in Fairyland by Mannanan 
Mac Lir ; and by Angus, the wisest of the Dedan- 
nans. All that a warrior should learn, and much 
druidical lore beside he is skilled in, and there 
are none who excel him in manly arts and cham- 
pion feats. But it seems that these accomplish- 
ments of his go for naught; for, now when we 
stand most in need of them, he sits idly here with 


192 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


us in our ship and never once offers to make an 
attempt to scale the face of the cliff and bring us 
tidings of our lost friends.” 

When Dyna, of the Bright Face, heard this 
speech his cheek grew red with shame. “It is of 
me you speak these words, Fergus,” he said, 
“and your reproaches are just.” 

And he arose, and girded on his armor, and 
took his two long, deadly spears, the Crann-boi 
and the Ga-derg, one in each hand; and the bat- 
tle fury of a warrior descended on him, so that 
he looked a dreadful foe to meet in single com- 
bat. Leaning on the handles of his spears, he 
leaped with a light, airy bound on to the nearest 
shelf of rock. 


Crann-boi [bwee]: The yellow spear. Ga-derg: The red javelin. 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


193 


CHAPTER III. 

He climbed from ledge to ledge while his com- 
panions watched him eagerly from below. After 
much toil he measured the soles of his two feet 
on the green sod at the top of the rock, and 
when he turned to look at his friends in the ship 
far below, a feeling of dizziness and dread al- 
most overcame him. Looking inland, he saw 
spread out before him a lovely plain, bordered 
with pleasant hills; and shaded with groves of 
many kinds of trees. 

It would bring happiness to the heart of any 
mortal to behold the beauty of this country, and 
listen to the warbling of the birds, the humming 
of the bees among the flowers, the rustling of 
the wind through the trees and the pleasant 
voices of the streams and waterfalls. 

Dyna set out to walk across the plain. 

He had not gone far, when he saw before him 
a mighty tree whose high branches, laden with 
fruit, overtopped all the other trees of the plain. 
This tree was surrounded at a little distance by 
a circle of pillar stones; and, one stone taller 
than the others stood in the center near the tree. 
Beside this pillar stone was a spring with a large, 


194 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


round pool as clear as crystal ; the water bubbled 
up in the center of the pool and flowed away 
toward the middle of the plain in a slender 
stream. 

Dyna was glad when he saw the well, for he 
was hot and thirsty after climbing the cliff. He 
stooped down to drink; but, before his lips touched 
the water he heard the heavy tread of warriors, 
and the loud clank of arms. He sprang to his 
feet and looked around, but the noise had ceased 
and he could see nothing of arms or warriors. 

He stood a little while wondering then stooped 
again to drink; and again, before he had wet his 
lips, he heard the very same sounds nearer and 
louder than before. A second time he leaped to 
his feet but there was no way in which to ac- 
count for the clank of arms, or the sound of the 
tread of marching champions, which he had 
heard. Astonished and perplexed, he stood be- 
side the well, and happening to look at the tall 
pillar stone near by he saw on its top a large, 
beautiful, drinking horn, chased with gold and 
enameled with precious stones. 

“Ah,” thought Dyna, “it is no doubt one of 
the virtues of this well that no one may drink 
of its waters except from the drinking horn. So 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


195 


he took down the horn, dipped it into the well, 
and drank without hindrance until he had slaked 
his thirst. Scarcely had he taken the horn from 
his lips, when he saw a tall grugach com- 
ing toward him from the east. The grugach 
was, clad in a complete suit of mail and fully 
armed with shield and helmet; sword and spear. 
A beautiful scarlet mantle hung over his armor 
and was fastened at his throat by a golden 
brooch. A broad land of gold, bended across his 
forehead, confined his yellow hair and kept it 
from being blown about by the wind. 

He came forward with long strides and soon 
reached the well. He ofifered no greeting nor 
courtesy to Dyna, but addressed him in a rough, 
angry voice: “O, Dyna of the Feine, could you 
not have drunk your fill from the crystal springs 
of Eire? Why have you come to my island and 
without my leave drank from my drinking horn 
the waters of this well? Never shall you leave this 
spot until you have given me satisfaction for this 
insult !” 

So spoke the grugach and advanced on Dyna 
with fury in his eyes. But there did not live a 
grugach who could terrify Dyna. He met the 
foe half way and like two enraged lions they 

Grugach: A wizard. Land: A crescent of gold worn on the head. 


196 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


fought through all the long day, until the gloam- 
ing; then the grugach suddenly sprang outside 
the range of Dyna’s sword and leaping up with 
a great bound alighted in the very center of the 
well. Down he went and disappeared in a mo- 
ment from the sight of the wondering Dyna. 
Whether the hero meant to drown himself or to 
play some wizard trick, Dyna knew not. He 
looked once more into the crystal waters of the 
well; all was as serene and quiet as when he first 
beheld them. He was filled with amazement and 
vexation because the grugach had so easily es- 
caped from him and as he seated himself on the 
green sward to think it over, he was sorely 
chafed to think that he had not the least token 
or trophy to show the Feine after his long fight. 

Dyna was hungry and tired after the toil of 
the day, so he set out to the forest near by to 
see if he could find some game for food. And 
as he neared the forest he saw a herd of speckled 
deer running among the trees. He put his finger 
into the silken loop of his spear and, throwing it 
with unerring cast, brought down the nearest of 
the herd. He lighted a fire under a tree and hav- 
ing skinned the deer he fixed it on long, hazel 
spits to roast. First, however, he went to the 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


197 


well and fetched away the drinking horn full 
of water. When the deer was cooked, he ate 
until he was satisfied, and drank a refreshing 
draft from the drinking horn, then he lay down 
under the shelter of a tree, beside the fire and 
slept until morning. Then he went again to the 
forest and slew another deer for his breakfast, 
for it was Dyna’s custom never to eat any food 
which had been left from a former meal. 

After he had eaten of the deer’s flesh and 
drunk from the horn he went toward the well. 
But the grugach was there before him, and stood 
beside the pillar stone fully armed as before, and 
looking more wrathful than ever. Dyna was 
much surprised, but before he had time to speak 
the grugach thus addressed him: “You have 
now put the cap on all your evil deeds, O, Dyna 
of the Feine, surely there are hunting grounds 
in Eire of the green plains, deep forests with 
plenty of deer in them, and you need not have 
come hither to rob me thus and kill my speckled 
deer. And now, O Dyna, hear me say : you shall 
not go hence until I have taken full satisfaction 
for all the injuries wrought me.” 

Then the grugach without waiting for Dyna 
to reply attacked him, and the two champions 


198 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


fought until the dusk began to fall. Then the 
grugach again leaped into the well and disap- 
peared. 

On the third day, everything was repeated as 
on the two former days, and on the fourth morn- 
ing, Dyna found the grugach standing as usual 
by the pillar stone near the well; and his looks 
were fiercer than ever. And once more without 
exchanging a word the warriors fought until the 
dusk of evening, and when Dyna, who was 
watching the grugach narrowly, saw him about 
to spring into the well as he had done each even- 
ing before, he threw his arms around him and 
held him in a mighty grip. The grugach tried 
to free himself while moving all the time nearer 
and nearer the brink of the well until finally he 
plunged in and down they went, Dyna and the 
grugach, clinging to each other; down, deeper 
and deeper, where nothing could be seen but 
darkness and shadows. At length there was a 
glimmer of light, then the full bright day burst 
suddenly upon them. Presently, without feel- 
ing any shock whatever they found them- 
selves standing on solid ground. But that mo- 
ment, the grugach, with a sudden effort, tore 
himself from Dyna’s grasp and ran away, leav- 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


199 


in g Dyna prone upon the earth. He leaped to 
his feet thinking to pursue the grugach, but the 
beauty of the .surrounding scene so distracted 
his thoughts that he forgot the wizard-champion, 
giving him time to escape. 

Here was a lovely country, with green-sided 
hills, and fair valleys between; groves of red 
yew trees, and plains laughing all over with 
flowers of every hue. Not far off was a city of 
grand tall houses with glittering roofs, and a 
magnificent royal palace. On the level green in 
front of the palace were a number of knights, 
all armed, amusing themselves with warlike exer- 
cises of sword and spear. 

It was toward this assemblage that the gru- 
gach ran. Dyna looked just in time to see the 
knights making way for him as he passed 
through their ranks and inside of the palace gate. 
Dyna was at a loss to know what to do next; 
he seated himself to rest and think; and, he fell 
into a deep sleep. After sleeping for some time 
he was awakened by a smart blow. He opened 
his eyes and saw standing over him a tall, young 
man, with a comely countenance and long golden 
hair. The young man, finding Dyna asleep in 
such a dangerous place had struck him with the 


200 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


flat of his sword to awaken him. Dyna, thinking 
him a foe, seized his arms. But the youth bade 
him put them up. “I am no enemy, and have come 
not to harm but to serve you,” said he. “Come 
with me, O Dyna of the Bright Face, and I will 
give you a better place to sleep, and kindly enter- 
tainment.” Dyna thanked the young man and 
went with him. After walking for some time they 
came to a splendid house which they entered. In 
the banqueting hall they found a noble company 
of twelve score and ten knights, and almost as 
many beautiful ladies with long, lustrous hair 
falling over their shoulders; and eyes as blue as 
the ailestar blossom. They wore mantles of 
scarlet satin fastened with brooches of bur- 
nished gold; and the sweet, wild lilies were not 
more gentle and modest than were these noble 
ladies in their looks and conversation. Both 
knights and ladies sat at tables lining the walls 
of the banquet hall ; some feasting, some playing 
chess, and some listening to the music of harps. 

All the knights and ladies arose and greeted 
the heroes when they entered, and invited them 
to join in the festivities. 

But the golden haired prince, for such he was, 
told them that first Dyna must have rest and re- 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


201 


freshment. Then he ordered the attendants to 
prepare a bath for him, and bring him rich gar- 
ments so that he should be clothed like the 
others. 

After Dyna, refreshed and cheerful, had joined 
the company once more he partook of food and 
drink and made merry with his hospitable 
friends. Harpers and poets; story tellers and 
professors of divers arts and sciences vied with 
each other in providing entertainment for the 
guests. Poetry, song and sweetest music; tales 
of the heroes of olden time ; and, again music 
sweeter than Dyna had ever heard stirred the 
imagination and warmed the hearts of that 
bright gathering. And to each and every poet, 
harper, or entertainer of whatever kind the 
knights gave gifts of gold, and silver, and jewels. 

After the feast was over, Dyna was shown to 
a couch, richly ornamented and soft with the red 
feathers of wild fowl, and soon he fell into a 
sound sleep. The next morning, when the com- 
pany had again assembled, Dyna said to the 
noble youth who had brought him thither: “I 
am much surprised, O prince, at all that has be- 
fallen me in this strange land. Tell me I pray 
you what country is this? And who is king 


202 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


thereof? And tell me also the name of the cham- 
pion who fought with me four days at the well; 
and who at last escaped from me through the 
palace gate?” 

“You shall be told everything; so listen, O 
Dyna of the Bright Face. This country is Tir- 
fa-tonn. The hero who fought with you is called 
the Knight of the Fountain, and he is the King 
of Tir-fa-tonn. I am the king’s brother, and am 
called the Knight of Valour. Good reason have 
I to be kind to you, Dyna, for I once spent a year 
and a day in the household of Finn, the son of 
Cumal. A part of this kingdom by right be- 
longs to me, but the king and his son have seized 
on my patrimony and have banished me from the 
palace, forcing me to live here in exile, with a 
few of my followers. I have here in my house- 
hold seven score and ten heroes; and, if you will 
consent to aid me in making war on the king of 
Tir-fa-tonn these shall be placed under your 
command. By day you shall fight, by night you 
shall feast and rest in the palace.” 

So Dyna and the Knight of Valour made a 
covenant, and placing hand in hand pledged 
themselves to be faithful friends. 


Tir-fa-tonn: Country under the waves. 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


203 


CHAPTER IV. 

It was now many days since Dyna had left 
his companions in the ship, and they marvelled 
much that he did not return with tidings of the 
Gilla Dacker. At length they determined to go 
in search of him. Feradach and Foltlebar tied 
all the cables and ropes they could find in the 
ship together in hard, sure knots ; and when this 
was done they had a rope long enough to reach 
from the top of the rock to the bottom. Then 
they clambered up the steep face of the cliff, 
fetching with them the end of the rope, and one 
by one they drew up Finn and the rest. 

When they were all up, Foltlebar led the way 
across the plain. And it chanced that they met 
a young man of majestic mien, riding a beauti- 
ful chestnut steed with a bridle of twisted gold, 
and a saddle of surpassing splendor glittering 
with gold and jewels. He alighted; and putting 
his hand on Finn’s neck, kissed his cheek three 
times and: “ Welcome art thou, O Finn of 
the famous deeds/’ said he, “to this, my kingdom 
of Sorca.” And while they were conversing, a 
messenger came breathless into the presence of 
the king, and bowing low, waited impatiently for 

Sorca [Sur'cah]: Scholars do not agree as to place meant. 


204 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


leave to speak. And when the king asked him 
what news he had brought, he replied: “Direful 
news have I, O king, for a foreign fleet has come 
to our shores, a fleet so great that until the stars 
of heaven and the sands of the sea are counted 
the hosts that are landing from their black ships 
shall not be numbered. Already they are 
plundering and slaying the people of our land.” 

Finn, when he heard this, without waiting to 
be asked, proffered the assistance of himself and 
his soldiers. 

The King of Sorca was glad of heart when he 
heard this offer, and he gathered his fighting 
men together and after many days of dreadful 
warfare the foreigners were overcome with 
disaster and set their sails and left the harbor in 
the night 

When the soldiers of Sorca and the Feine 
arose next morning, not a ship was in sight. And 
while they were rejoicing with each other at be- 
ing freed from invasion, they saw at a distance, 
a troop of chieftains coming toward them, with 
arms and banners, ablaze with the morning sun- 
light. 

As they drew nearer, Fergus, the poet, recog- 
nized Dyna Bainchre at the head of the troop, 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


205 


and ran forward to meet him. With embraces 
and shouts of joy the parted friends greeted each 
other, and Dyna related all of his adventures 
from first to last. “And now,” continued he, 
bringing forth the Knight of Valour from 
among the strange host, “this is he who was 
formerly called the Knight of Valour, but who 
is now the King of Tir-fa-tonn, ‘for together 
have we fought and won for him his patrimony 
which was wrested from him by his brother, the 
unjust and cruel Knight of the Fountain.’’ The 
chieftains in silence saluted the king and Dyna 
continued telling of the Knight of Valour: “He 
has given us tidings of the Gilla Dacker, for by 
means of his druidical art he has found out that 
he is no other than Avarta, the Dedannan, who 
took the form of a grugach in order that he 
might bring away with him the sixteen Feine to 
the land of promise, Tir-na-n-og, and he now 
holds them in bondage there. 

Finn and the young king then made covenants 
of friendship with each other, and after they had 
rested a few days in the palace of the king of 
Sorca, they set out again on their quest of the 
Gilla Dacker with the skillful Foltlebar for their 
helmsman. 


206 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


They sailed from island to island and from 
bay to bay, over many seas and by many shores, 
until at length they arrived at Tir-na-n-og 
where in his youth Dyna of the Bright Face had 
been nurtured by Mannanan Mac Lir of the Yel- 
low Hair. It was Finn's intent to burn and spoil 
the country, to avenge the outrage that had been 
done his people, but Dyna would not hear of this 
and he said: “O king, it is not well for us to 
be at war with this people, for none are more 
skilled in Druidic art. Let us send a trusty 
herald to Avarta, that he may demand from him 
the liberty of our companions; if he grants our 
request we shall be at peace ; if he refuses ; then, 
shall we proclaim war and waste this land with 
fire and sword.” 

This advice was approved by all, and then 
Finn said “But how shall heralds reach the 
dwelling of this enchanter, for the ways are not 
open and straight as in other lands ; but, crooked 
and made for concealment, and the valleys and 
plains are dim and shadowy and hard to be 
traversed.” 

But Foltlebar, nothing daunted by the dangers 
of the way, offered to go with but one trusty 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


207 


companion, and Finn chose Gaul Mac Morna 
to accompany him. 

When the two heralds approached the man- 
sion of Avarta they found their friends amusing 
themselves on the green outside the palace walls ; 
for though held captive they were treated with 
great kindness by Avarta. When they saw the 
heralds coming toward them their joy knew no 
bound. They crowded round to embrace them 
and ask them many questions about home and 
friends. 

And while they were greeting each other, 
Avarta himself came forth and asked who the 
strangers were. Foltlebar replied: “We are 
heralds of Finn, the son of Cumal, and we are 
sent by him to demand the release of our friends, 
held in bondage by thy evil spells. At .first 
Avarta made no reply, but he called a council of 
his chief men, and they conferred together and, 
having much fear of the Feine, they decided to 
restore Finn’s people, and allow him to make his 
own award in satisfaction for the injury done 
him. 

Avarta accompanied the heralds and they re- 
turned to Finn, and the King of Tir-na-n-og 
delivered his own message. And Finn and 


208 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


Avarta put hand in hand and made a league o£ 
friendship. Then Avarta invited the heroes of 
Eire to a feast, and for three days they ate and 
drank and made merry. On the fourth day a 
meeting was called to hear the award. When all 
were gathered together, Finn was asked to name 
his award, and this is what he said : “I shall not 
name an award, O Avarta, neither shall I ac- 
cept an eric from thee ; but, the wages I promised 
thee, when we made our covenant at Knock- 
ainey, that I will give thee, for I am thankful 
for the welcome thou hast given us here, and I 
wish peace and friendship between us for ever- 
more.” 

But Conan was not so easily satisfied, and lost 
no time in saying: “Little hast thou endured, 
O Finn, and thou mayest well waive thy award; 
but, hadst thou, like us, suffered from the sharp 
bones of the Gilla Dacker’s monstrous horse in 
a long journey across wide seas, through tangled 
woods and over rough headed rocks, from Eire 
to Tir-na-n-og, thou wouldst, methinks, name 
an award.” 

Then Avarta, without waiting to hear more 
said to Conan: “Name thy award and I will ful- 
fill it every jot, for I have heard of thee Conan, 


PURSUIT OF THE GILLA DACKER 


209 


and I fear the taunts of thy mischievous 
tongue.” 

“Very well, then,” said Conan, “this is my 
award: Fifteen of the best and noblest men 
in your Land of Promise shall mount on the back 
of the big horse that brought me and my com- 
panions thither, and you yourself shall take hold 
of his tail and in this manner you shall fare back 
to Eire over the self same track by which we 
came ; through the same thick, thorny woods and 
over the same islands and rough rocks ; and this, 
O Avarta, is my award.” 

Now Finn and his people were rejoiced ex- 
ceedingly when they heard Conan’s award, for 
they had greatly feared that he might ask for 
treasures of gold and silver; and thus bring re- 
proach on the Feine. Avarta promised that every- 
thing required by Conan should be done, and 
then the heroes took their leave. And they 
launched their ship on the broad, green sea and 
having sailed back to Eire, marched to their 
camping ground at Knockainy, and rested in 
their tents. Avarta then chose his men and after 
they had mounted on the horse’s back, he him- 
self caught hold 6f the tail and it is not told how 
they fared until they made harbor and landing 
place at Cloghan Kincat. From thence they 


210 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


journeyed straight to Knockainy. Finn and his 
people saw them coming, the Gilla Dacker, quite 
as large and ugly as ever, running before the 
horse, for he had let go of the tail at Cloghan 
Kincat. 

The Feine could not help laughing heartily 
when they saw the plight of the fifteen chiefs on 
the great horse’s back; and they said with one 
voice that Conan had made a fitting award. 

When the horse reached the spot from which 
he had at first set out the men began to dismount. 
Then the Gilla Dacker suddenly stepped for- 
ward, held up his arm and pointed earnestly over 
the heads of the Feine towards the field where 
their horses were grazing. This startled the 
heroes and they turned round, every man, to 
look. But nothing could they see, but the horses 
grazing quietly inside the fence. 

And when they turned back again, intent on 
speaking to the Gilla Dacker and his men, they 
were much astonished to find them all gone ! 

The Gilla Dacker and his spectral horse and 
the fifteen nobles from the Land of Promise had 
disappeared in an instant; and neither Finn nor 
any of his chiefs ever saw them afterwards. 

And thus ends the story of the pursuit of the 
Gilla Dacker and his horse. 


The Fairy Palace of the 
Quicken Trees 


EYOND the border of the northern 
sea, in his beautiful palace of Berva, 
dwelt Colga of the Hard Weapons, 
grandson of Mighty Balor and king 
of the warlike Lochlanns. 

Glorious and powerful was Colga yet some- 
what there was to trouble him, and amidst all 
the splendors of the palace he sat with bowed 
head, pondering a way of relief. And he called 
a meeting of his chief people on the broad green 
plain before the palace. Wearing his Ionar 
braided with precious stones and carrying his 
two bright bronze-handled spears in his hand he 
went forth to meet the people when they had 
gathered together. Then, from his high throne, 
he spoke to them and his voice rang clear in the 
ears of the most distant : “My people,” said he, 
“have I been to you an unjust ruler, or have you 

Braighean Caorthainn [Breen Car'hyenn]: Gaelic for Palace of the 
Quicken Trees. Quicken Tree: The mountain ash. Ionar; 
Military cloak. 



211 


212 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


found any cause for complaint against me, your 
sovereign lord and king?” As with one voice 
they answered: “O king, mighty and just, 
Wielder of the Hard Weapons, thy people find 
no fault with thee, command us and we obey.” 

Then spoke King Colga : “Know you not that 
I am called king of the tribes of Lochlann and 
of the islands of the sea? Yet there is one island 
which acknowledges not my rule.” 

And the people, not knowing this, asked which 
island. 

“It is Eire, the island of the green hills. My 
forefathers held sway over it, and many of our 
brave warriors died there in battle. There fell 
Balor of the Mighty Blows and Kethlenda, his 
queen. There too fell Iran and Slana sisters of 
the king and many others. Our hosts indeed 
once held this land under tribute ; but the men of 
Eire arose and drove them into the sea, which 
even yet is red with their blood, and Eire no 
longer owns the sway of the Lochlann king. 
Once again, O men of Lochlann, we must subdue 
that island and hold it subject as long as the 
ends of the rushes are brown.” 

“Wise art thou, O King,” said the chiefs of 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 213 

Lochlann “and the council is worthy of our ac- 
ceptance.” 

Then, swift scouts and couriers and estafets 
mustered the king’s fighting men, and they made 
ready their white-sailed, curve-sided ships; and 
chasing the white sea horses through the billowy 
brine, made neither stop nor stay until they had 
landed on the shores of Ulad. 

Now this was three hundred three and thirty 
years after the death of the King of Israel on 
Calvary; and, at this time Cormac son of Art, 
son of Conn the Hundred Fighter, was king of 
Eire, and held his court at Teamhair-na-Righ. 

When Cormac heard that a foreign fleet had 
landed on the shores of his far north province 
of Ulad, he sent messengers with tidings of the 
invasion to Alvin of the green hill slopes where 
lived Finn the head chieftain of the four clans of 
the Feine, the brave and ever ready defenders of 
the island of Eire. 

Then Finn sent word to every part of Eire 
where the Feine dwelt and bade them meet him at 
a certain place near the coast where the Loch- 
lann army were encamped. When the forces of 
Finn had met together without delay they at- 
tacked the foreigners, and fiercely the foreigners 

Teamhair-na-Righ [Tow ' -er-na-Ree'] : Tara of the Kings. Ulad Ool ' 
lah] : Ulster. 


214 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


met the onset. Now it seemed that victory was 
for the fearless Lochlanns ; and now the shouts of 
the sons of Eire rose triumphant above the din 
of clashing spears. At last, Oscar, son of Oisin, 
meeting king Colga closed in deadly conflict 
hand to hand with him. Soon, his bright shield 
rent, his helmet dinted with sword blows, the 
blood from his deep wounds welling forth from 
beneath his pierced armor, fell Colga of the 
Hard Weapons, slain by Oscar, son of Oisin. 

At sunset there remained not one of the 
mighty men of Lochlann, except king Colga’s 
youngest son, Midac. Finn, returning to Allen, 
brought Midac with him, and gave him a high 
post as befitted a prince. While Midac was 
growing to manhood, he hunted and feasted 
with the Feine; and fought with them when they 
fought, and all the while he made himself ac- 
quainted with their haunts, and hunting 
grounds, their palaces and fortresses ; and in par- 
ticular with their manner of carrying on war. 

And it happened one day in a council of the 
Feine, that Conan Mael the son of Morna stood 
up and said : “O king, have you not noticed that 
the young prince Midac is silent and distant and 


Midac [Mee'ach]. 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 


215 


that he takes much pains to acquaint himself 
with all matters pertaining to the Feine?” 

“What you say, O son of Morna, is true,” an- 
swered the king, and then he asked Conan to 
give his opinions as to what should be done. 

Said Conan : “I advise that the Prince Midac 
be given lands and a household of his own, apart 
from the palace of Allen, where he can no longer 
listen to our councils and learn our secrets and 
our plans.” 

Then the king sent for the prince and said to 
him: “Thou knowest, Midac, thou hast always 
been dealt with as becomes a prince. It is not 
meet that thou shouldst abide longer in the house 
of another, choose therefore the two cantreds in 
all Eire that please thee best, and they shall be 
given to thee and thy descendants forever as a 
patrimony.” So Midac chose the rich cantred 
of Kenri on the Shannon ; and the cantred of the 
island lying next to it on the north, at the other 
side of the river. Midac had good reason for 
choosing these two cantreds, for the river opens 
out between them like a great sea, and in the 
sheltered harbors ships could anchor in safety, 
and he hoped some day to bring a fleet and an 
army into Eire to avenge on Finn and the Feine 


216 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


the defeat and death of his father and his coun- 
trymen. For fourteen years Midac lived in his 
new home, and there was no Brugaid in Eire 
richer or more prosperous than he. One day 
Finn and the Feine went to hunt in the district 
of Fermorc, and over the plain of Hy Conall 
Gavra. And when the chase was about to begin, 
Finn and a few of his companions went to the 
top of the hill of Knockfierna to see the sport. 
There they pitched their tents and made soft 
couches of rushes and heather, and dug cooking 
places; for they intended the hill to be a resting 
place for the hunters. They had not been there 
long before they saw a tall warrior coming 
toward them. He wore a splendid coat of mail 
of Lochlann workmanship, and over it a mantle 
of fine satin, dyed in divers colors. A broad 
shield hung on his left shoulder; and, in the 
morning sun, his helmet glittered like polished 
silver. A long sword, with golden hilt and en- 
amelled sheath, hung at his left side, and he 
held in his right hand his two sharp, death-deal- 
ing spears. 

Wonderfully majestic was his bearing; and 
as he approached he saluted the king in digni- 
fied and courteous words. To Finn’s inquiry as 

Brugaid [Broo'a]: A farmer or husbandman. 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 217 

to whence he came, and what tidings he brought 
he replied: “Of the place from which I have 
come nothing need be spoken; and no tidings 
have I except that I am a Ferdana, and I have 
brought thee a poem, O King of the Feine.” 

“A mountain top is not the place for poetry.” 
said Finn. “Remain here with us until the chase 
is ended, then you shall come with me to one of 
our palaces, and there I will listen to your poem 
and bestow on you befitting gifts.” 

But the unknown Ferdana answered: “To 
go to your palace is not my wish ; and I now put 
you under geasa, which will compel you to listen 
to my poem and explain its meaning.” 

So Finn was compelled to listen while the 
Ferdana sang: 

“I saw a house by a river’s shore, 

Famed through Eire in days of yore; 

Its Lord deep skilled in fairy lore. 

No spoiler can rive its golden store ; 

Safe it stands when the torrents pour. 

Feasting and joy for evermore 
To all who enter its open door.” 

“I can explain that poem!” said Finn, “the 
house by the river's shore is the palace of Bruga, 
where dwells Angus, a man more skilled in 
magj,c arts than any in Eire.” 


Bruga [Broo' ah]. 


218 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


'Thou hast divined my meaning said the 
stranger, "canst thou also explain this rann?" 

“I saw to the south a bright faced queen, 

With couch of crystal and robe of green ; 

Slowly she moves; and yet her speed 
Exceeds the pace of the swiftest steed.” 

"The queen you speak of is the river Boyne, 
which flows by the southern wall of the palace 
of Bruga. Her couch of crystal is the river's 
sandy bed; her robe of green, the grassy plain 
through which it flows. The river indeed flows 
slowly, but its waters traverse the whole world 
in seven years, and that is more than the swiftest 
steed can do." 

"Truly hast thou spoken," said the Ferdana 
grasping more tightly his polished spears. 

And then Finn besought him to tell who he 
was, and whence he came; but Conan Mael 
spoke saying: "Wise art thou, O Finn, and 
thou hast unravelled the mystical ranns; yet, in 
this has thy wisdom failed thee; thou hast not 
distinguished between friend and foe, for this 
Ferdana is Midac, whom thou didst bring up with 
much honor in thy own house; but who is now 
thy enemy. Long has he enjoyed the patrimony 
with which thou didst endow him, and though 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 219 

he is one of the Feine, never has he offered the 
hospitality of his palace to thee or them. ,, 

Said Midac: “My house has never been with- 
out a banquet fit for either king or chief; and, 
an invitation you did not need, for I was 
one of you : But let that pass ; this night a feast 
will be ready and I put you under geasa to come 
and partake of it. Remember, tonight Midac, 
the prince, awaits Finn and his Feine soldiers in 
the Palace of the Quicken Trees.’ ’ 

“And having pointed out the way, the Fer- 
dana turned to go saying he must hasten to have 
all things in readiness when they should arrive.” 

Finn held council with his companions, and it 
was agreed that the king’s son Oisin and five 
other chiefs with their followers should tarry on 
the hill until the hunting party returned, while 
Finn and the remaining chieftains went to the 
Palace of the Quicken Trees. And it was also 
arranged that Finn should send back word as soon 
as possible after his arrival telling how he fared 
It was also arranged that after the hunting 
party returned Oisin and his companions were 
to go likewise to partake of Midac’s hospitality. 

As Finn and his party neared the palace they 
marveled greatly at its size and splendor; and 


220 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


they wondered that they had never seen it be- 
fore. It stood on a green plain surrounded by 
many quicken trees, on which hung thick 
clusters of scarlet berries. A broad river flowed 
through the green plain and its bank nearest the 
palace was rocky and high, and a steep pathway 
led down to a ford. 

Everything was silent and lonely, and to their 
surprise no one came to greet them. Finn, fear- 
ing foul play, would have turned back had he not 
bethought him of his geasa and his promise. 
The great door of the palace was wide open, but 
when they entered they found no one — neither 
host nor guests nor attendants. Never had they 
seen a banquet hall more splendid. A huge fire, 
burning brightly in the middle of the hall, gave 
forth no smoke, but a sweet perfume which re- 
freshed and delighted the heroes. Everywhere 
were couches covered with rugs and soft, glossy 
furs. The curved walls were of wood: close 
jointed and polished like ivory. Each board was 
painted differently from those above and below, 
so that the sides of the room from the floor to 
roof were all radiant with color. Without wait- 
ing longer, the chieftains seated themselves on 


The houses of the ancient Gaels were of wood. 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 221 

the couches and rugs to await the coming of 
their host. 

Presently a door opened and Midac entered. 
He looked at the heroes one after another, but 
spoke not one word, only turned quickly and 
went out, shutting the great door behind him. 

Finn and his friends were unable at first to 
speak for wonder at this strange proceeding; and 
they remained sitting in silence until Finn, when 
he had somewhat recovered from his surprise, 
said: "My friends, I know you are no less sur- 
prised than I at the manner of our reception : our 
host speaks us no word of welcome; and, al- 
though we were invited to a feast, there is none 
prepared for us.” 

"But is not this still more a cause for wonder ?” 
said Gaul MacMorna, "the fire, which was clear 
and smokeless when we first saw it and which 
smelled more sweetly than the flowers of the 
plain, now fills the hall with an offensive odor, 
and sends up clouds of black, sooty smoke.” 

"And more wonderful even,” said Dathkin, 
the strong-limbed, "the boards in the walls of 
this banquet hall which were smooth and close 
jointed, and glorious all over with bright 
colors, when we came, are now nothing but 


Dathkin [Da ' kin]. 


222 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


rough planks, clumsily fastened together with 
quicken tree withes, and as rude and unshapen 
as if they had been hacked and hewed with a 
blunt axe. 

“And behold,” said Foilan, the son of Aed the 
Lesser, “instead of the seven great doors of the 
palace wide open and looking pleasantly to the 
sunshine, as they were on our arrival, I see now 
only one small, narrow door; close fastened and 
facing straight to the north.” 

“Most wonderful of all,” said Conan Mael, 
“the rich rugs, and furs, and couches which 
were under us when first we seated ourselves, 
are all gone! Not a fragment remains, and we 
are now sitting on the bare, damp earth; and it 
feels as cold as the snow of one night !” 

Then Finn spoke again: “You know, my 
friends, that I never tarry in a house having only 
one door. Let one of you then arise, and break 
open that narrow door, that we may go forth 
from this foul smoky den.” 

“That, shall I do,” cried Conan; and, so say- 
ing, he seized his long spear and planting it in 
the floor, point downward, he attempted to 
spring to his feet, but was unable to move. 
“Alas, my friends,” cried he with a groan of 

Foilan [Fwee'lan]. Aed [A]. 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 223 

anguish, “this is most wonderful of all; I am 
firmly fixed by some druidical spell to the cold 
clay floor of the Palace of the Quicken Trees.” 

And all the others, likewise, found it impos- 
sible to move from the place where they sat. 
When Gaul had sufficiently recovered from sur- 
prise to speak, he said: “It seems clear, O 
king, that Midac has planned this treachery, and 
that great danger lies before us. I beseech you, 
place your thumb under your tooth of knowledge 
and let us know the truth so that we may hasten 
to consider how best to escape.” 

Whereupon Finn placed his thumb under his 
tooth of knowledge and mused for a little while. 
Then suddenly withdrawing his thumb, he sank 
back in his seat and groaned aloud. 

“May it be the will of the gods,” said Gaul, 
“that it is the pain of thy thumb that has caused 
thee to utter that groan.” 

“Alas, not so,” replied Finn, “I fear that my 
death is near; and the death of my dear com- 
panions. There x is now no hope for our escape 
from Midac’s treacherous snare; for in the 
palace of the island, there is at this moment an 
army of foreigners, brought thither by Midac 
for our destruction. Sinsar of the battles, with 


Sinsar [Shin'shar]: The Elder. 


224 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


sixteen warlike princes under his command, has 
come from Greece. His son, Borba the 
Haughty, has come also commanding a band of 
fierce and haughty knights. The three kings of 
the Island of the Torrent are already on their 
way, furious as dragons. It is they who by 
their sorcery have enabled Midac to prevent our 
leaving the palace; for this cold clay we sit on is 
a part of the soil of the enchanted island of the 
Torrent. It was brought by Midac to his palace 
and placed here with fearful spells. Never can 
our enchantment be broken, unless the blood of 
those kings be first sprinkled on the clay. When 
they heard these tidings, some of the heroes shed 
bitter tears in silence; and others lamented 
aloud. ++&#*«** 

But Finn again spoke, and said he: “It be- 
comes us not, my friends, to weep and wail like 
women, even though we are in danger of death. 
Let us rather sound the Dord Fian, sweetly and 
plaintively as we are wont to do, that it may be 
a comfort to us before we die.” 

So the fated warriors sang: And while they 
were singing, Ficna, the son of Finn, and Isna, 
the son of Svena Selga, came from the hill of 
Knockfierna for, as Finn had sent no messengers 

Borba [Bur 'bah]: Fierce. Dord: Bass in music; Dord Fian: War 

chant of the Feine. 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 225 

to the Feine, whom he had left behind him on the 
hill, they feared some evil had befallen him and 
his companions. They waited until nightfall and 
then set out to ascertain the true state of affairs. 
When they neared the Palace of the Quicken 
Trees, night had darkened around them, and al- 
though they could not see the palace they heard 
the Feine within singing the loud, slow strains of 
the Dord-Fian. 

“Things go well with our friends,” said Isna 
joyfully. 

But Ficna replied: “Alas, I cannot think so, 
for it is only in time of trouble or danger that 
Finn is wont to have the Dord-Fian sounded, in 
a manner so slow and sad.” 

When the song was ended, Finn noticed the 
low hum of conversation outside, and recogniz- 
ing the voice of Ficna he said to him: “Come 
not nearer, my son, for this place abounds in 
dangerous spells, and here Midac holds us fast 
in the sorcery of the kings of the island of the 
Torrent.” 

But both Ficna and Isna said that never would 
they return to safety leaving their much loved 
chieftain in deadly danger. 

Then said Finn: “In yonder palace of the 


226 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


island are gathered mighty hosts of foreigners, 
plotting our destruction; but, to come thither 
they must needs pass the ford under the shadow 
of these walls. The ford is rugged and hard to 
cross, and one good man standing in the steep, 
narrow entrance at the hither side might dispute 
the passage for a time against many. Go now 
and defend this ford, and haply help may come 
in time.” 

Then Ficna and Isna departed rejoicing to 
think that they might perhaps be of assist- 
ance to the brave but stricken chieftains who 
were imprisoned in the enchanted palace. And 
they agreed between them that Isna should 
guard the ford alone, while Ficna set out 
straightway for the palace of the island. 

Here, all the day, had Midac and the foreign- 
ers feasted and drank; and were merry in the 
thought that Finn and his people were securely 
bound, in the charmed durance of the palace of 
the Quicken Trees. And at eventide spoke an 
Irla of Sinsar of the Battles, and said: “I will 
now go to the palace of the Quicken Trees and 
bring hither the head of Finn, son of Cumal; 
and I shall gain thereby much renown and be 
honored by Sinsar of the Battles.” 


Irla [Earl]: Scandinavian word. 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 227 

So he went taking with him a goodly number 
of his own knights. When they reached the 
ford near the palace of the Quicken Trees, the 
Irla, looking through the darkness, thought he 
saw a warrior standing at the other brink and 
he called aloud to ask who was there, and 
whether he belonged to the noble or the ignoble 
races of the world. And Insa answered that he 
belonged to the household of Finn, the son of 
Cumal. 

“Lo,” said the Irla, “we are going to the Palace 
of the Quicken Trees to bring Finn’s head to 
Sinsar of the battles, and thou shalt come with 
us and lead us to the door.” 

“O champion of Sinsar,” answered Isna, “I 
guard this ford for Finn, and never, I warn you, 
shall I allow a foe of his to pass.” 

''Force the ford,” cried the Irla to his knights, 
"then shall we see if yonder hero can fight as 
well as he threatens.” 

So Insa defended the ford and when the con- 
flict was over, the shore was heaped with the 
bodies of the slain. Those of the combatants 
who remained alive fled away and Isna was 
fain to rest after the long hard fray. 

But the Irla, seeing so many of his knights 


228 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


slain, was mad with wrath, and snatching up his 
sword and shield he attacked Isna. Now the 
Irla was fresh and strong, while Isna was weary 
and sore wounded ; and at length the young war- 
rior fell in the ford, and the Irla beheaded him 
and, exulting in his victory, brought the head 
away. 

Finn and his companions, sitting in miserable 
plight, in the Palace of the Quicken Trees heard 
the clash of arms at the ford, and the shouts and 
groans of warriors. After a time all was still 
again and they knew not how the fight had 
ended. 

The Irla returning to the palace of the island, 
overtook, Ficna, reconnoitering near the palace 
gate. Ficna spoke to the Irla and asked him 
whither he had come. 

“I come,” replied the Irla, “from the ford of 
the palace of the Quicken Trees, and lo, I bring 
with me the head of a young champion, who op- 
posed our passage, and slew our knights, as we 
were on our way to take Finn, the son of Cumal. 
And lo, here thou mayest behold the head of the 
defender of the ford; for him have I slain in 
fierce and single combat, and I bring this gory 
trophy to Sinsar of the battles, King of Greece/' 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 229 

“Alas, dear youth,” said Ficna, “only this 
morning I saw the light of valor in those dim 
eyes, and the bloom of youth on that pale cheek !” 

Then wrathfully he spoke: “Knowest thou 
to whom thou hast shown this ghastly witness 
of thy triumph?” 

“Art thou not one of the Knights of Sinsar?” 
asked the Irla. 

“I am not; and neither shalt thou be after this 
hour,” answered the Ficna, drawing his sword. 
And they fought where they stood; and the 
foreign Irla fell by the avenging hand of Ficna, 
the son of Finn. 

Ficna brought the Irla’s head to the Palace of 
the Quicken Trees and showed it to Finn, and 
related all his adventures. And Finn, hearing 
of the death of Isna, wept for his loved one slain 
and then he said : “Victory and blessing be with 
thee my son; nobly hast thou done, and now re- 
turn and guard the ford, and peradventure our 
friends may send help in time.” 

So Ficna went and sat on the brink of the 
ford. 

Now Kiaran, brother of the slain Irla, seeing 
that he remained away so long from the palace 
of the island, said to some of his followers : “It 


230 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


is a long time since my brother left for the palace 
of the! Quicken Trees. I fear that he and his 
people have fared ill in their quest.” 

And Kiaran went to seek his brother, tak- 
ing with him a company of knights. When they 
had come to the ford they saw Ficna at the far 
side, and Kiaran called out and asked who he 
was, and who had made such slaughter at the 
ford. 

“I am one of the household of Finn, the son 
of Cumal!” answered Ficna, “and by his com- 
mand I guard the ford. As to the slaughter of 
yonder knights: I warn you come not to this 
side of the ford, for I shall reply not in words 
but in deeds.” 

Then Kiaran and his men rushed through the 
water, blind with rage, and after a fearful con- 
flict, only one man was left alive; and he sped 
quickly back to the palace of the island to tell the 
tale, leaving Ficna weary and wounded on the 
river brink. 

Midac, hearing the tidings, was very wroth 
and he bethought him of a ruse: Said he: 
“Among the companions of Finn is Conan Mael, 
a man who of all the men of Eire has the great- 
est appetite and is fondest of eating and drink- 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 231 

in g. To him will I go with a choice party of my 
own brave men, and bring him savory food and 
drink — not indeed to delight him but to torment 
him with the sight and smell of what he cannot 
taste. 

So it happened that Midac and his men were 
trying to force the ford from Ficna when Fatha 
and Dyna of the Bright Face were on their way, 
from the hill of Knockfierna, to find out why 
their companions lingered so long in the palace 
of the Quicken Trees. And Fatha said: “I hear 
in the distance the sound of single combat; the 
combat of mighty heroes.” 

"And I too,” said Dyna, "hear that sound 
which quickens the blood in every warrior’s 
heart, let us hasten to the scene of the fray.” 

They ran like the wind until they reached 
the hill-brow over the river, and looking across 
in the dim moonlight, they saw the whole ford 
heaped with bodies of the slain, and the two 
heroes fighting to the death at the far side. 
Dyna hastened to the spot and putting his finger 
in the silken loop of his spear, threw a deadly 
cast with unerring aim and struck Midac so that 
the iron spear head went right through his 
body and the length of a warrior's hand beyond. 


Fatha [Faw'ha]. 


232 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


And Midac, knowing that he was wounded to 
death by the spear of Dyna, struck more fiercely 
at Ficna, felling him to the earth, upon which he 
too sank to rise no more. 

Then said Dyna to Midac: “If I had found 
thee dead, I would have passed thee untouched, 
but now that I have overtaken thee alive, I must 
needs behead thee, for thy head will be to Finn a 
worthy eric for his son.” 

And Dyna, forthwith, left Fatha at the ford 
and brought the head of Midac to Finn, and 
Finn having listened to Dyna's account of this 
last conflict said: “Victory and blessings be 
with thee, Dyna, for what thou hast done; and, 
I pray thee, continue to aid us well and faithfully 
or we shall certainly perish. Here we sit, spell- 
bound, and naught else but the blood of the three 
fierce kings of the island of Torrent sprinkled 
on this clay can release us. Guard the ford until 
the rising of the sun, for then I know the Feine 
will come to help you.” 

“O Finn, this arm shall never fail thee; and 
faithful is Fatha to the king of Feine.” And bid- 
ding his friends farewell, Dyna was about to re- 
turn to the ford when Conan Mael said with a 
groan: “Miserable the hour in which I came 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 233 

to this palace; cold and comfortless the clay on 
which I sit; but, worst of all to be without food 
and drink so long. There is plenty of wine and 
savory food yonder in the palace of the island, 
Dyna, and I beseech you, for I can no longer 
bear this torture, bring me from the palace as 
much food as I can eat, and a drinking horn of 
wine.” 

“The wind of misfortune to one uttering such 
selfish words” said Dyna. “It is not enough 
that we must defend you from the foreigners; 
but, also, food must be procured for the glutton- 
ous Conan Mael!” 

“Alas, Dyna-na-man, if a lovely maiden made 
this request, you would fly to please her ; but you, 
who have already crossed me four times in my 
courtships, would now be pleased to see me die 
of hunger in this dungeon.” 

“Cease your upbraiding, and I will bring you 
food,” said Dyna, “for it is better to face danger 
than to suffer revilings.” 

So he went back to where Fatha was guard- 
ing the ford, and said to him: “I needs must 
go to the Palace of the Island in order to procure 
food for Conan Mael.” 

But Fatha told him of the food which Midac 


Dyna-na-man: Dyna, Favorite of women. 


234 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


had placed at the other side of the ford, and 
urged him to bring a good meal of this to Conan. 

“If I did that,” said Dyna, “he would taunt 
me with bringing him food taken from the hands 
of dead men; and, from his blow one may re- 
cover; but, not from the venom of his tongue.” 

Dyna then hastened to the palace and as he 
drew near he heard the sound of revelry, and 
peering warily through the open door, he saw 
the feast-tables spread, and Sinsar of the Battles 
and his son Borba high seated over all. Dyna 
entered a dark passage way, near the door, and 
standing silent and stern, with drawn sword, 
watched his opportunity and when an attendant, 
with a large, ornamented drinking horn filled 
with wine, passed close to him he struck off his 
head with a swift, sure blow and snatched the 
horn from the man’s hand, before he fell. So 
deftly was it done that not a drop of wine was 
spilt. Dyna was able also to obtain a dish of 
food from near where the King sat at the table, 
and get off without hindrance or harm of any 
kind. 

When he reached the ford he found Fatha ly- 
ing fast asleep on the bank. This caused him 
to wonder; yet knowing the young warrior was 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 235 

worn out with watching and toil, he left him 
undisturbed and went to the palace of the 
Quicken Trees with the food for Conan. 

“I have here a goodly meal of choice food; 
how am I to give it to thee, Conan ?” called 
Dyna as, bearing the food with him, he stood 
outside the palace under the low branches of the 
Quicken Trees. 

Said Conan : “Throw it towards me from 
yonder little opening.” 

Dyna did so ; and as fast as he threw the food, 
Conan caught it in his large hands and ate it 
ravenously. And when it was all gone, Dyna 
said: “I have here a fine drinking horn of good 
wine; how am I to give it to thee?” 

Conan answered: “There is a place behind 
the palace where with a light, airy bound 
you will be able to reach the lower parapet. 
Come from that directly over me, and break a 
hole in the roof with your spear, and through 
that you can pour the wine down to me.” Dyna 
did as Conan told him, and as he poured down 
the wine, Conan, with upturned face, opened his 
great mouth and swallowed every drop. 

Dyna then returned to the ford. He found 
Fatha still asleep but did not awaken him. 


236 GAELIC FOLK TALES 

When the Kings of the Island of the Torrent 
heard that Midac and his knights were slain at 
the ford they said: “The young King of Loch- 
lann did wrong to make this attempt without 
asking our council. To us alone belongs the 
right to slay those who by our spells sit bound in 
the Palace of the Quicken Trees.” 

Thereupon the kings with a strong party set 
out, and soon reached the ford. Looking across 
in the dim light they saw Dyna and greeted him, 
saying: “The countenance of a pleasant moon 
to you, O Chieftain,” and with fair words they 
sought to beguile him into leaving the ford. 
But Dyna stood up straight and tall as a pillar 
and scowled across the ford : “The wind of mis- 
fortune to you, perfidious foreigners! Attempt 
not to approach the Palace of the Quicken Trees, 
for I will defend the ford as long as life shall 
last.” 

And then Dyna, seeking to awake Fatha, there- 
with, cried: “Pharra! Pharra!” the battle cry 
of the clans of Eire. 

The hostile knights rushing toward Dyna im- 
petuously assailed him, but the strong hero met 
them as a rock meets waves and slew them when 
they came within reach of his sword. The 


Pharra 1 Pharra 1 Beware l Beware ! 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 


237 


crashing of weapons and the riving of swords 
awaked Fatha, and then he too turned and at- 
tacked the foe and many a knight fell at his right 
and at his left. 

Long and furious was the fight; and at last 
the three dragon-like kings lay slain upon the 
fateful ford. Dyna, striking off their heads, re- 
turned followed by Fatha to the Palace of the 
Quicken Trees. As they drew near the door 
Finn, knowing their voices and footsteps, called 
loudly to know how it fared with them: “For,” 
said he, “the crashing and the din of that battle 
exceeded all that we have yet heard, and we 
know not how it has ended.” 

Dyna made haste to answer: “O, King of 
the Feine, Fatha and I have slain the three 
Kings of the Island of the Torrent: Lo, here are 
their gory heads!” 

“Victory and blessings be with thee, Dyna! 
You and Fatha have fought a valiant fight, 
worthy of the Feine of Eire. Now sprinkle the 
door with blood.” 

Dyna did so, and in a moment the door flew 
open with a loud crash. Pale and faint the 
champions sat upon the cold, clay floor; but no 
sooner was it sprinkled by the blood of the three 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


kings than they sprang to their feet with exult- 
ing cries. The spell was indeed broken, and joy- 
fully embracing each other the freed heroes gave 
thanks to Neid, the god of battle, for their re- 
lease. 

But danger still threatened, and Finn’s first 
thought was to provide against it. Said he: 
“The venom of these odious spells has withered 
our strength, so that we are not able to fight, 
but at sunrise they will lose their power,” and 
returning to Dyna and Fatha he told them that 
they must guard the ford until the rising of the 
sun, when he and his knights should have re- 
covered their strength. 

A few who had escaped from the last battle 
at the ford brought back tidings to Sinsar of the 
fate of the Three Kings. But of the release of 
those who had been spellbound in the Palace of 
the Quicken Trees they could not tell, as they 
did not know that it had taken place. 

When Borba, the Haughty, had heard the ac- 
count of defeat and death at the ford, he arose 
and said: “Feeble warriors were they who tried 
to cross this ford. Hither I shall now go, and 
when I return will bring the head of Finn, the 
son of Cumal, and place it at my father’s feet.” 


Neid [Na]. 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 239 

And marshaling his warriors without delay 
Borba marched forth; and when Dyna and Fatha 
saw the dark mass drawing nigh they longed in 
their hearts for morning. Not of themselves 
they thought, for they had never trembled be- 
fore any foe, but they feared the danger for Finn 
and his warriors. 

Again an unequal fight was filling the ford 
with slaughter. But soon the sun rose over the 
broad plain of Kenri, and as its first rays glinted 
from their lances the withering spell went forth 
from the bones and sinews of the heroes who 
had been imprisoned in the palace of the Quicken 
Trees. Joyfully they snatched up their arms and 
hastened down to the ford. But Dathkin, the 
strong limbed, they sent to take the news to 
Oisin at Knockfierna. 

The beams of the risen sun now glittered 
bright on helmet and sword-blade and as the 
fight went on, Gaul, son of Morna, slew Borba, 
the Haughty. 

A messenger brought the news of his son’s 
death to Sinsar and his people. Cries of sor- 
row went up on all sides; but the king conceal- 
ing his grief, summoned his whole host and 
marched them toward the battlefield of the ford. 


240 


GAELIC FOLK TALES 


When the messenger to Knockfierna had told 
his story, the entire body of heroes there en- 
camped set out for the Palace of the Quicken 
Trees, and arrived on the hill-brow over the ford 
just as Sinsar and his army approached from 
the opposite side. 

And now the fight ceased for a while and the 
two armies were put in battle array; and, on 
neither side was there any desire to avoid the 
combat. 

The Feine were divided into four battalions: 
Clan Baskin; Clan Morna; Clan Smoil and Clan 
Navnan, and together they marched forward 
under their silken banners. Their helmets were 
bright with precious gems, their broad, beauti- 
ful shields they bore on their* left shoulders; 
their keen edged swords hung at their left sides 
and they held their deadly lances in their hands. 
And when they closed in conflict such display 
of valor had never before been seen in Eire. 

Oscar, resting for a moment from the toil of 
battle, looked around and saw Sinsar guarded 
by his best warriors. Rushing through the op- 
posing ranks he drew near the king. Sinsar 
laughed grimly when he saw him, for he was 
glad in his heart expecting to revenge his son’s 


Baskin; Gaelic, Baoiscene. 


FAIRY PALACE OF QUICKEN TREES 


241 


death by slaying with his own hand Finn’s 
grandson. 

Then these two great heroes fought a deadly 
battle and in the end, Oscar, with a blow that 
no shield or buckler could withstand, swept the 
head from Sinsar’s body. Seeing this a shout 
of triumph went up from the Feine, and the 
foreigners instantly gave way pursued and slain 
on every side. A few threw away their arms 
and escaped to the shore; and, hastily unmoor- 
ing their ships, sailed swiftly away to their 
own country, and the winds of Eire blowing 
across the waters bore to their ears the music of 
a triumphant Dord Fian. 




























. 







* 

























• I 













































































































































































































































































































































































t 




































































































































































































































































































































































































« I 














































































































\ 


iv 




* . (r 






■ 







































liQV 29 l® 09 



tcoPY. ntn to r«r 








A 









* 



































































/ 
















J 


\ • 






















































